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Depression

Psychology Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tends to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Therefore it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer (Blackman, 1995). Despite this increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed and leads to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment which may often continue into adulthood.
Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil, mood swings, gloomy thoughts, and heightened sensitivity. It is a time of rebellion and experimentation. Blackman (1996) observed that the "challenge is to identify depressive symptomatology which may be superimposed on the backdrop   of a more transient, but expected, developmental storm." Therefore, diagnosis should not lay only in the physician's hands but be associated with parents, teachers and anyone who interacts with the patient on a daily basis. Unlike adult depression, symptoms of youth depression are often masked.   Instead of expressing sadness, teenagers may express boredom and irritability, or may choose to engage in risky behaviours (Oster & Montgomery, 1996). Mood disorders are often accompanied by other psychological problems such as anxiety,   eating disorders, hyperactivity, substance abuse and suicide   all of which can hide depressive symptoms.   The signs of clinical depression include marked changes in mood and associated behaviours that range from sadness, withdrawal, and decreased energy to intense feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts.   Depression is often described as an exaggeration of the duration and intensity of "normal" mood changes (Brown 1996).   For many teens, symptoms of depression are directly related to low self esteem stemming from increased emphasis on peer popularity....