TEENAGE DEPRESSION
Adolescence is a period of mood swings varying from depths
of depression to heights of elation. This should be considered “normal”.
In addition, “ acute depressive reactions” are a sort of
healthy grief response following death or separation from a loved one. These
resolve in due course of time, occasionally after weeks or months.
“Neurotic depressive disorders” are unresolved grief
reaction and are characterized by a feeling of guilt in relationship to the
dead. A psychiatric treatment is in order.
“Masked depression” is characterized by denial and
somatization of feelings of despair , hopelessness and helplessness by the
adolescent. Manifestation include “acting-out” behavior in the form of
substance abuse, school truancy, running away from home, multiple accidents,
unexplained headache, abdominal pain, etc. A psychiatric treatment is
mandatory.
“Psychotic depressive disorders” may have such additional manifestation as
delusions of guilt, impaired reality testing and thought distortion.
Psychiatric treatment is strongly indicated.
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