Depression Flashcards
Significant issues with adolescents and mental health
- context for looking at it
- developmental framework
- significance for FNP practice
- concerns about how to address them
Statistics with adolescents and mental health
- four million children/adolescents in US have serious mental disorder that causes significant functional impairment
Of children 9-17 years old, 21% have
a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder
half of all lifetime mental disorders begin by what age
14
Why does depression stand out in adolescents
- affects growth and development
- affects school performance
- affects family life/relationships
- affects adolescent adjustment
- potential to affect long-term functioning
Depression in adolescents is difficult to diagnosis why
because it can be difficult to distinguish it from normal adolescent growth and development
Depression in adolescents is the leading cause of what
suicidal behavior and suicide
Major depression in adolescence is a psychosocial dysfunction manifested by
- severe sadness
- withdrawn behavior
- boredom
- low self-esteem
- feeling helpless and hopeless
- sense that there is no meaning to life
Depression in adolescence must be differentiated between
symptoms of depression from chronic, sad, irritable moods, which are normal experiences;
Must decide which behaviors are normal variants, developmental transitions, temperamental manifestations, or primary manifestations of psychiatric disorders
DSM-5 classifications for depression diagnosis
- major depressive disorder
- persistent depressive disorder {dysthymia}
- premenstrual dysphoric disorder {PMDD}
- substance-/medication-induced depressive disorder
- depressive disorder d/t another medical condition
Major Depressive Disorder {MDD} DSM-5 criteria
5 or more symptoms must be present during same 2-week period; with at least one of the symptoms being depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure:
- depressed or irritable mood
- diminished interest or pleasure in activities
- weight change or appetite disturbance
- insomnia or hypersomnia
Persistent Depressive Disorder {dysthymia} DSM-5 criteria
- an overwhelming, chronic state of depression
- depressed mood most days for at least 2 years with baseline irritable or depressed
- has not gone for more than 2 months without 2+ of the following sx:
a. poor appetite or overeating
b. insomnia or hypersomnia
c. low energy
d. low self-esteem
e. difficulty making decisions
f. feelings of hopelessness - symptoms must cause significant distress in social, work, school, or other areas of functioning
With persistent depressive disorder {dysthymia} you must rule out
- substance abuse
- manic episodes
- other medical conditions
What underlies the risk for depression
genetics:
children with depressed parents have 3 x the risk to be diagnosed, with peak incidence between 15-20 years old
What is common with adolescent depression
it is often chronic and comes and goes
what are the reasons for not treating depression in child/adolescence
- stigma attached to mental illness
- atypical presentations
- lack of adequate mental health education
- lack of providers
- insurance issues
What is a big problem for younger children with depression
underdiagnosis and treatment d/t tendency to somatize, to present with general aches and pains
Traditional Depression Signs
- sadness
- tearfulness
- depressed mood
- sleep disturbance
- appetite disturbance
- poor concentration
- suicidal ideation or actions
Incidence of depression
- women>men
Consider depression with
- unusual and recurring fatigue
- unexplained weight loss
- vague, unexplained physical symptoms or “just not right” feeling
- irritability and/or apathy
- frequent dr visits
Depression overlaps with
- fibromyalgia
- migraines/headache syndrome
- premenstrual syndrome (severe)
- irritable bowel syndrome
- chronic fatigue syndrome
Brain scan for patient with depression
- is markedly different than not depressed
- decreased brain activity
- less areas of cognitive function lit up on MRI
Types of depression
- major depressive episode
- dysthymic disorder
- double depression
- seasonal affective disorder
- depression secondary to substance abuse
- postpartum depression
Major depressive episode
- single or recurrent
- is most common form
- maintains mood/function until depression hits