What are the symptoms of adolescent depression (identification and treatment of adolescent depression)

Neither psychologists nor psychiatrists can turn a blind eye to depression.

It has a strong presence.

What happened in these two days makes me want to talk about adolescent depression.

1

The afternoon before yesterday, my friend P suddenly called me, and she was in tears. She said that her daughter asked to see a psychiatrist, and she didn't know what to do.

After a brief understanding of what happened, I comforted her. Since the child asked to see a psychiatrist herself, it shows that the problem is not big, because she has a sense of asking for help and has not given up on herself.

The next morning, my friend's husband took his daughter to the hospital.

Unexpectedly, the doctor diagnosed her with severe depression in less than 20 minutes and asked for direct hospitalization 15 days.

Hearing such a diagnosis and treatment plan.

My friends and family are scared to death.

How can it be so serious?

What should we do next?

Why didn't you find it earlier?

What are the characteristics of this disease?

2

Depression is a very common mental health disorder of children.

According to the report of Maine Eastern Medical Center, depression affects at least 3 million to 6 million children in the United States. 2.5% of children and 8.3% of teenagers will suffer from depression. In adolescence, girls are more likely to suffer from depression than boys, and the ratio is about 2 1.

Characteristics of adolescent depression:

Although adolescent depression is similar to that of adults? Three lows? Symptoms (depression, decreased behavioral activity, decreased interest), but there are also some special points.

The main manifestations are truancy, weariness of learning, irritability, aggressive and destructive behavior, resistance to parents, suicidal thoughts and suicidal behavior, which may be related to the immature self-awareness of children. In many cases, adolescent depression may be regarded by parents as adolescent rebellion, delayed or misdiagnosed.

three

How do parents and teachers identify adolescent depression?

DSM-5, the fifth edition of the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, describes several different degrees of depression.

Depression includes: major depression, dysthymia and mild depression.

Major depressive disorder, or major depression, is characterized by a series of comprehensive symptoms, which interferes with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat and enjoy once pleasant activities, making people unable to work and live normally.

Bad mood, or bad mood, is a long-term (2 years or more) symptom, which may not be serious enough to make people out of normal life, but it can prevent normal function or feel good.

Mild depression is characterized by symptoms lasting for 2 weeks or more, which does not meet the criteria of severe depression.

Symptoms of depression:

Persistent sadness, anxiety or? Empty? The feeling of

Despair or pessimism

Feel guilty, worthless or helpless

Irritability, anxiety

Lose interest in once enjoyable activities or hobbies, including sex.

Fatigue and decreased energy.

It is difficult to concentrate, remember details and make decisions.

Insomnia, going to bed early or sleeping too much.

Overeating or loss of appetite

Suicide and attempted suicide.

Pain, headache, cramps or digestive problems cannot be relieved even by treatment.

If children or students have the above symptoms, parents and teachers should pay attention to them and contact professional psychotherapists as soon as possible.

four

How should adolescent depression be treated?

Principles of treatment:

Regarding the treatment of adolescent depression, as early as 2005, the authoritative department formulated relevant principles:

Psychotherapy is still the first choice for children with depression in the early acute stage or with mild symptoms. If after 4-6 weeks of psychotherapy, the condition does not improve, or if it is diagnosed as severe depression, then drug intervention is necessary.

Journal of the American Medical Association? Related research in Psychiatry also shows that cosima locher and his colleagues designed (36 trials with 6778 participants) and found that although drugs can help young people with depression, the benefits of this treatment are not much greater than those of placebo treatment.

Psychotherapy combined with directional guidance and family guidance can effectively help teenagers to relieve depression and anxiety.

Domestic related research also shows that after the symptoms of acute depression are relieved, continuing to maintain 6- 12 months of consolidated drug treatment can effectively prevent recurrence. At the same time, during the maintenance treatment, we can consider combining psychotherapy to consolidate, so as to help children and adolescents with depression reduce psychological sequelae.

Drug therapy:

After research, SSRI drugs can be used as the first choice for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. Fluoxetine has the best effect and the least adverse reaction, and others are sertraline and citalopram.

Paroxetine also belongs to SSRI drugs, but its withdrawal symptoms and suicidal tendency are obvious, so it is forbidden to be used to treat depression in children and adolescents.

Psychotherapy:

At present, there are mainly one-on-one psychological counseling/counseling and family guidance.

I used to be a full-time psychology teacher in middle school.

At school, I am responsible for the teaching of psychological counseling activities and students' psychological counseling.

When I first started working, I never saw my value as a psychology teacher.

Until one time, in the middle of the night, I received a message from a student.

She said, teacher, I don't want to live.

The first time I received such information, I broke out in a cold sweat.

Give her an immediate reply: We will have an interview tomorrow. Please promise the teacher not to do anything until you see me.

Fortunately, she agreed.

Although eight years have passed, I remember the voice, tone, expression and appearance of this classmate clearly.

She is a tall and thin girl, standing, half a head taller than me, thin and sallow. Ear-length short hair, handsome, but often frowning. Her voice was so low that I had to concentrate and listen carefully.

This quiet and delicate girl has just been diagnosed as moderate depression by the hospital. So he sent me a message.

The doctor suggested medication, but her parents were worried that drugs would damage their children's brains and wanted me to give their daughter psychological counseling.

The consultation lasted for a whole semester, first twice a week, then once a week.

Although my consulting skills were still unfamiliar and inexperienced at that time, I just listened patiently and gave her understanding and affirmation.

At the same time, it also explained the knowledge of depression to parents. Parents are more cooperative and their attitudes towards their daughters are changing. Under the influence of various factors, she gradually walked out of the haze and began to go to school normally in the new semester. Later, I was admitted to a good high school.

Family therapy:

During the treatment of depression, parents should adjust their mentality, don't be too alarmed and worried, and actively cooperate with psychological counseling.

What parents need to do:

Provide emotional support, understanding, patience and encouragement.

Talk to TA and listen carefully.

Never ignore feelings, help TA point out practical problems and provide hope.

Invite TA to go out for a walk, outing and other activities. If TA refuses, keep trying, but don't force it.

See a doctor/consult on time.

Tell TA that depression will be relieved after time and treatment.

Finally, I thought of Miracle of Love, which said that children change as slowly as snails and often repeatedly. This requires great patience from parents and teachers. * * * Encourage!

References:

Robbie Walliver. Depressing news about depression in children and adolescents, psychology today. September 14, 20 10.

[2] erlanger Turner. Adolescent depression: symptoms and solutions,

Psychology Today 201April 7, 4.

[3] Eugene Rubin, Charles Zorumsky. Treat depression and anxiety of children and adolescents. May 15, 20 18.

[4] Nong, Pan Nanfang,, et al. Research progress in drug treatment of depression in children.