Teenage Depression: Psychology-Based Treatment

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Summary of the Articles
Case Study
Psychology-Based Treatment Plan
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Depression is a psychological disorder that afflicts people in different stages of their development. This paper selects and reviews five articles on depression with a particular focus on teenage misery. It then creates a case study for a client who is experiencing the chosen issue or condition. The last section discusses a possible positive psychology-based treatment plan for the client.

Summary of the Articles

Bennet (2014) provides important statistical findings that help to portray the significance of depression disorder. For example, the scholar informs that about 6.7% (14.8 million) of all United States’ adults suffer from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Arguing from a survey conducted in 2012 by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Psychological Association, the author reveals that millennials (18-33 years) are more likely to suffer from depression when compared to other age groups. The survey indicated that 19% of millennials were likely to be informed by their doctors that they had depression or an anxiety disorder compared to 14% for cases involving 34-47 years, 12% for 48-66 years, and 11% for 67 years and above years (Bennet, 2014). The author further mentions how social work scholars contend that the majority of the young people who are put under their care have psychological challenges associated with depression.

Using data derived from Psychology Today, Gallerani, Garber, and Martin (2010) argue that high school and college young adults have 5-8 times the possibility of suffering from depression compared to teenagers who lived 5 to 6 decades ago. This finding suggests an increased rate of depression among adolescents as years progress. Although Gallerani et al. (2010) assert that the US has been experiencing an increasing level of teenage depression, the article fails to provide comparative data, which is necessary for determining the trend or changes over the last decade.

Young and Dietrich (2015) researched to examine mechanisms that predict depressive and anxiety symptoms to identify risk factors that could be modified to promote health and interventions. The research drew its sample from 11-15-year-old teenagers. After making adjustments for various baseline values, rising anxiety levels increased worry, and rumination predicted depressive symptoms. Young and Dietrich (2015) recommended the creation of programs addressing these factors to help in managing depression among teenagers.

A discussion of depression is incomplete without a consideration of its ontology and epistemology. However, Huang and Fang’s (2015) article argues that such a possibility is slim considering that the manual of psychological mayhem provides just only the criteria for a major depressive episode. The article emphasizes that the manual fails to define depression in its ontological terms. Rather, the criterion is based on how one can recognize that he or she suffers from depression. Hence, the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-1V) only describes depression but does not offer reasons for the combination of causes or even the reasons for the collective symptoms that characterize depressive episodes (Huang & Fang, 2015). This finding underlines the need to interrogate the issue of depression’s ontology and epistemology.

Eszter and Balazs (2013) review literature from 27 studies on sub-threshold depression (SD) in teenagers. The article mainly focuses on sD occurrence, life eminence, the risk of suffering from Major Depressive Episodes, and/or programs that target adolescents with sD. The study finds a high prevalence level of sD among young adults, thus indicating that sD acts as a major risk factor for developing MDE. The researchers also note that it leads to low-quality lives among young adults (Eszter & Balazs, 2013). Hence, there is the need for treating depression among all population segments, including teenagers.

Case Study

Timothy, aged 15 years old, has astonished his parents. One month ago, he began to show a strange change in his behavior and thinking. He depicts no motivation for doing his school assignment and even domestic tasks such as helping out in cooking. One day, he came from school and locked himself in his bedroom for hours. Thinking that this situation was just a one-day bad mood, the behavior has now become a routine. He is easily angered, has high irritability, and/or shows very hostile behavior towards his peers and family members. Apart from changes in his eating behaviors, he remains awake most of the nights. His parents are worried about the situation. They have opted to consider a psychological intervention.

Psychology-Based Treatment Plan

Timothy urgently needs to be treated for depression. The treatment plan should be comprised of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. However, the appropriate treatment option depends on the severity of depression and individual preferences (Young & Dietrich, 2015). The case of Timothy does not involve mild depression. Therefore, talk therapy or psychotherapy alone is not adequate. An antidepressant should also be administered.

Conclusion

Teenage depression poses serious threats to the proper development of children, both psychologically and emotionally. Just like in the case of Timothy, depressive episodes may escalate to serious challenges that cause behavioral problems to peers and family members. From the article summaries, the cases of teenage depression are on the rise. Hence, there is the need to have an elaborate and comprehensive policy for addressing teenage depression.

References

Bennet, K. (2014). Cost utility analysis in depression: the mcsad utility measure for depression health states. Psychiatric Services, 51(9), 1171–1176.

Eszter, B., & Balazs, J. (2013). Sub-threshold depression in adolescence: A systematic review. European Adolescent Psychiatry, 22(1), 589-603.

Gallerani, M., Garber J., & Martin, N. (2010). The temporal relation between depression and comorbidity psychopathology in adolescents at varied risk for depression. Journal of Child Psychology Psychiatry, 5(1), 242–249.

Huang, Y., & Fang, L. (2015). Understanding depression from different paradigms: Towards an electric social work approach. British Journal of Social Work, 12(1), 221-253.

Young, C., & Dietrich, M. (2015). Stressful life events worry and rumination predicts depressive and anxiety symptoms in young adolescents. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 28(1), 35-42.

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