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Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder and Societies Youth

Lisa Somerville

Argosy University- Nashville Campus

December 13, 2007

Abstract

In an attempt to better understand depression in today’s youth, I have chosen to explore the depths of Major Depressive Disorder and how it affects the young people in our society. Depression amongst school age children and adolescents are the primary focus. The prevalence, adversities, and treatment of the depression are discussed as well. After exploring these few facets of the disorder, I will talk briefly about the Ecological Model developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner and Morris in 1998 that is used by counselors to help evaluate and assess the children who are referred by teachers or medical physicians.



Major Depressive Disorder and Societies Youth

Major Depressive Disorder in the DSM IV is determined by depressive episodes that last at least 2 weeks at which time a depressed mood is present or there is a loss of interest and or pleasure in the day to day activities. For society’s children, the mood may appear to be one of irritability rather than a look of sadness.   Symptoms of a depressed individual are: feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, agitation, guilt, difficulty thinking and focusing, fatigue, loss of appetite, recurrent thoughts of suicide or death, withdrawal and insomnia. Major Depressive Disorder is a mood disorder that is hard to detect in children. Children tend to lack the abilities at such young ages to express their emotional and cognitive state of mind. A child’s developmental progress or lack of may affect the process of diagnosis because the child is either unable to articulate their emotional state or are possibly exaggerating, maybe even misunderstanding what they are feeling. School age children illustrate behavioral problems, lack of interest and troubles with academia. Adolescent children tend to be withdrawn, lethargic and fatigued while having loss of appetite, and later in the...