The Burden of Depression in Adolescents and the Importance of Early Recognition

Abstract

ental health disorders are frequent during the developmental years, particularly in adolescents. The leading cause of disability in young people are neuropsychiatric conditions, which if left untreated may severely affect development, including educational and social achievements. It has been reported that 10%-20% of individuals experience a form of mental disorder during childhood and adolescence worldwide. 1 One-half of them arise by 14 years of age. 2 Among adolescent mental health disorders, depression is one of the most frequent conditions, and it is indicated as one of the most alarming "new morbidities." 3,4 The onset of depression is typically around mid-to-late adolescence, and it important to recognize its early warning signs and symptoms. Early intervention can often prevent the later development of a severe depressive illness. For instance, in adolescents, depression is a major risk factor for suicide, and more than one-half of adolescent suicide victims were reported to have a depressive disorder at the time of death. 5 Depression also leads to serious social and educational maladjustments in this age group, such as an increased rate of smoking, substance misuse, eating disorders, and obesity. 6,7 This commentary aims to further raise awareness of pediatricians on the burden and risks faced by adolescents developing depression. In particular, we emphasize that new morbidities should be part of the formal training in pediatrics worldwide, enabling the new generations of pediatricians to recognize these pathologic conditions in a timely manner and effectively deal with them.

Behavioral and Emotional Disorders in Children during the COVID-19 Epidemic

“…Важным фактором, обеспечивающим достоверность результатов, полученных из опросников, исследующих психические расстройства в целом и во время чрезвычайных ситуаций в частности, является процедура сбора данных и их статистического анализа. Использование стандартных статистических методов обеспечивает возможность сопоставить результаты с итогами других исследований [12,13].…”

Parents’ Perceived Impact of the Societal Lockdown of COVID-19 on Family Well-Being and on the Emotional and Behavioral State of Walloon Belgian Children Aged 4 to 13 Years: An Exploratory Study

“…In addition, several studies found that the lockdown had resulted in more family conflicts and affected the parent-child relational experience, which influenced children’s well-being ( Spinelli et al, 2020 ). The risk is that these family conflicts will be expressed as a kind of violence against children, making them vulnerable to emotional damage ( Cluver et al, 2020 ; Jiao et al, 2020 ; Petito et al, 2020 ; Solantaus et al, 2004 ). As for the effect of children’s COVID-19-related nervousness on their psychological condition, the literature mentions that school-aged children are able, to some extent, to assess the crisis, familiar with the use of media, and aware of the negative information the media can convey ( Oppenheimer et al, 2016 ; White, 2017 ).…”

Contextual factors associated with depression among Northern and Indigenous adolescents in the Northwest Territories, Canada

“…Among adolescents, depression is one of the most common mental health challenges and a suicide risk factor, with onset usually in mid-to-late adolescence (Petito et al, 2020). It is critical to halt psychological distress and promote wellbeing among adolescents.…”

“…Chronic psychological stress among adolescents has harmful impacts on neurobiological systems that are connected with emotional and behavioral regulation across the lifecourse (De Bellis, 2001). Without treatment, depression can harm educational and social outcomes, and may contribute to other health concerns such as smoking and substance use (Petito et al, 2020). Depression usually impacts youth during mid-to-late adolescence, hence identifying illness and early intervention can reduce the likelihood that adolescents will develop severe depression or other psychosocial challenges (Petito et al, 2020).…”

“…Without treatment, depression can harm educational and social outcomes, and may contribute to other health concerns such as smoking and substance use (Petito et al, 2020). Depression usually impacts youth during mid-to-late adolescence, hence identifying illness and early intervention can reduce the likelihood that adolescents will develop severe depression or other psychosocial challenges (Petito et al, 2020). There are concerns that depression may be increasing among adolescents over time in North America, and in turn there may be an elevated number of young people with untreated depression (Mojtabai et al, 2016;Lu, 2019).…”