Adolescence and early adulthood

Question 1

define adolescence

Answer 1

phase between childhood and adulthood

Question 2

define adrenarche

Answer 2

• Adrenarche is the term for the maturational increase in adrenal androgen production
• -> stimulated by hypothalamus –> stimulates pituitary gland

–> manifests clinically as presentation of axillary / pubic hair

Question 3

define menarche

Answer 3

Menarche is the first menstrual cycle, or first menstrual bleeding

Question 4

there is approx 2 years difference in timing between boys and girls on the onset of puberty

Answer 4

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Question 5

Assessing 5 stages of puberty
FEMALES

1 - everything before puberty 
2 - development of breast budding 
3 - 
4 - development of adult breast size 
5 - fully mature

Answer 5

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Question 6

NOTE

improvement in diet –> decrease in age of menarche for girls

Answer 6

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Question 7

what are psychological changes related to pubertal / adolescence growth ?

Answer 7

• cognition e.g morality
• identity
• increased self awareness
• affects expression and regulation

Question 8

What are social changes that occurs during adolescence?

Answer 8

• role of parents
• increased importance of peers
• more complex peer relationships
• ## romantic relationships

Question 9

describe the developmental mismatch hypothesis

Answer 9

• grey / white DA pathway changes increase vulnerability to risk taking

–> increase in risk taking behaviour

Question 10

note:

3/4 of mental health problems are established by age of 24

Answer 10

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Question 11

what is anorexia nervosa

Answer 11

persistent restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight

• morbid fear of fatness
• also may be linked with endocrine disturbance
• also linked with other weight loss behaviors

Question 12

what are some examples of mood disorders

Answer 12

1. Depression
   - -> SYMPTOMS: low mood/sadness, loss of enjoyment, loss energy
   - -> changes to appetite / weight
   - -> poor concentration
   - -> pessimism / guilt
   - -> loss of libido
   - -> self harm

• -> symptoms present for at least 2 weeks

2. Bipolar affective disorder (rarer)
3. Psychotic depression (severe)
4. Mixed anxiety + depression

Question 13

What is conduct disorder

Answer 13

Persistent failure to control behaviour appropriately in socially defined rules

3 overlapping domains of behaviour:

• Defiance against authority
• Aggressiveness
• Antisocial behaviour

Question 14

Puberty: define the term puberty , list the main endocrine factors associated with puberty, the normal ages at which this occurs in girls and boys, summarise the change in the onset of puberty since the mid-19th century and the adolescent attitudes to pubertal development

Social development: recall the main areas of normal social development in adolescence

Anorexia nervosa: define the main features of anorexia and summarise the aetiological and maintaining factors

Antisocial behaviour: identify the main features of antisocial behaviour, conduct disorder and offending

Psychological interventions: identify the psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions that may ameliorate the problems linked to psychological disorders during adolescence

Answer 14

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