Depression in Adolescents - 1561 Words

Depression in Adolescents Depression is a huge plague in the world. The American Psychiatric Association reports that depression occurs if at least 5 of the following symptoms occur for at least 2 weeks: depressed or sad mood, decreased interest in activities that once was enjoyable, weight gain or loss, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, misplaced guilt, a lack of concentration, or even recurrent thoughts of death. Approximately 121 million people are affected by some form of depression. Statistics from the Center for Disease and Control Prevention show that approximately 8.3 percent of adolescents are affected by depression. Whereas this number seems small compared to the number that affects adults, it is important to†¦show more content†¦The social isolation leads to the feelings of depression. It is reported that depression could be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that medication can correct. According to the theory of chemical imbalance, low levels of the brain chemica l serotonin lead to depression and depression medication works by bringing serotonin levels back to normal ( Laramine, 1995). However some studies suggest that there are no concrete ways to test serotonin in the brain so this theory has not been proven (Smith, Robinson, Segal and Ramsey 2014). It is suggested that depression among adolescents can be detected early if family members, school officials, and other people within the community recognize the warning signs. Adolescents experiencing depression are often sad and sometimes having crying spells. They often are restless and have difficult times sleeping. They feel fatigued and irritable and often have feelings of shame or worthlessness. There are times when adolescents feel bored or lose interest in activities that they once enjoyed. Adolescents experiencing depression often have a hard time concentrating or making decisions. Their demeanor may change including talking or moving slow. They may lose or gain weight. Lastly, and probably the most severe sign is that of suicidal thoughts (King and Vidorek, 2012). Treatments for depression among children varyShow MoreRelatedDepression And Adolescent Depression956 Words   |  4 Pagesan estimated  3 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in the past year† (â€Å"Major Depression Among Adolescence†). One of the leading mental health issue amongst teen in America is depression. Depression (major depressive disorder) is defined in the American Psychiatric Association as causing an overwhelming feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activity. One must understand the causes of depression, how depression affects the adolescenceRead MoreADOLESCENT DEPRESSION1008 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Adolescent depression is a disorder that affects teenagers. 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However, these ups and downs can be signs of depression.† Unfortunately, it seemsRead MoreEssay on Depression and Adolescents1314 Words   |  6 Pages Depression and Adolescents nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Depression. Is depression possible in young adults? Not until recently doctors thought that kids were not prone to depression. They thought that depression was purely an â€Å"adult† disease. Nowadays, every doctor knows that a child could be depressed too. The causes of adolescent depression and treatment outcomes were explored in the article by Pat Wingert and Barbara Kantrowitz â€Å"Young and Depressed† that I will discuss. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ThisRead MoreAdolescent Depression And Its Effects1339 Words   |  6 Pages1st period January 5, 2015 Adolescent depression While researching I found out that many things about adolescent depression and thanks to the authors that published books, newspaper and magazines. 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In most cases, depression is the leading cause of why adolescents tend to make rash decisions and cause problems to themselves and also for others. Emerging adulthood coincides with adolescents as it is a time of feeling in-between. A child is growing to become a teen, a teen is becoming a young adult, and the young adult is becoming an mature, independent adult. Throughout t his time, there are many paths to choose from, hardships to overcome