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Depression in Adolescents

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DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS 2.

Table of Contents

Introduction …………………………………………………………………………….…....3.
Background of Depression in Adolescence…….…………………………………………….4.
Causes ...............................................................................................................................…...5.
Symptoms………………………………………………………………………………….…6.
Diagnosis….…………………………………………………………………………………. 7.
Treatment……………………………………………………………………………………..7.
Epidemiology of Depression in Youth……………………………………………………….9.
Contextualised issues pertaining to Depression in Adolescence……………………………10.
The impact of Culture on Adolescent Depression…………………………………………...10.
Abnormal behaviours associated with Adolescent Depression….…………………………..11.
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………...11.
References…………………………………………………………………………………...12.

DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS 3.

This research paper will address depression in adolescents. Depression is often labelled as ‘the sickness of our time’ due to its prolific nature. Some of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of depression in adolescents as well as the contextualised issues, cultural implications and other abnormal behaviour associated with the disorder will be discussed.

DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENTS 4.

Background of Depression in Adolescence

Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood, a stage of major growth and development in which significant physiological, cognitive, psychological and behavioural changes take place. Understandably then, adolescence is a time of excitement and of anxiety; of happiness and of troubles; of discovery and of bewilderment; and of breaks with the past and yet of links with the future (Schmied & Tully, 2009).

Research has revealed that depression is occurring earlier in life today than in past decades (NIMH, 2009). In addition,

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