Depression and fretfulness

Depression and Anxiety in Adolescence

Depression and anxiety are the most common mental conditions among adolescence, and they frequently co-occur. They are frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated. Because these psychiatric conditions can be accompanied by physical symptoms, individuals frequently present to primary care institutions with physical concerns rather than psychological ones (Rey & Birmaher, 2015).

Interpretation of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms

Anxiety and depression symptoms can be interpreted in three ways. First, patients who meet the criteria for both an anxiety disorder and a depressive episode may be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) in addition to an anxiety condition. Second, patients who fit the criteria for MDD yet have sub-threshold anxiety symptoms. They may be diagnosed amid anxious depression (Simeon & Ferguson, 2012). Lastly, those patients with the sub-syndromic symptoms for both depression and anxiety ought to be diagnosed amid mixed depression and anxiety.

Cardinal Symptoms of Depression

The cardinal symptoms of depression include sad and low moods. In addition, the physical symptoms of depression comprise of sleep disturbances, changes in appetite and weight, psychomotor retardation or activation and fatigue (Rey & Birmaher, 2015). Patients might also have trouble with concentration, decision-making, harbor suicidal thoughts, and have feelings for being worthlessness, helpless, hopeless and inappropriate culpability.

Treatment and Management of Depression

Even though depression is difficult to treat, procedural management is fundamental Clinicians should first rule out other associated psychiatric disorders as well as substance abuse. Suicidal ideation should be addressed with urgency in every case. After dealing with severe symptoms of depression, the patients may be led to complete remission and, thereafter, a continuation therapy, which may last for up to nine months. Conservation therapy ought to be taken into consideration for those patients that have recurrent depression (Simeon & Ferguson, 2012).

References

Rey, J., & Birmaher, B. (2015). Treating child and adolescent depression. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Simeon, J. G., & Ferguson, H. B. (2012). Treatment strategies in child and adolescent psychiatry. New York: Plenum Press.