Suicide and Adolescent Psychology

Adolescent Psychology is a difficult speciality within the field. M any of the normal figures of teen development look ilk pathologies, and perhaps would be classified as such(prenominal) if the patients were adults. Thus, it is difficult, even for a trained professional, to tell the difference among a on-key pathology, and a normal mood or personality pattern associated with youthful development.An sweep where this deficiency abide lead to grave circumstances is the realm of adolescent impression and felo-de-se. Although true suicidal tendencies can be difficult to fault in adolescent sort, timely identification and proper give-and-take are important goals of Adolescent psychologists. Although causal theories differ, the intervention of teen felo-de-se attempts and depression is fairly consistent across adolescent theorists.Typical signalology of suicidal tendencies in adults has several(prenominal) features. (Symptoms2007) The underlying mental cause of such ideat ions is usually depression. (Symptoms2007) Symptoms of depression allow in sleeping pattern disruptions, feelings of low self-worth, loss of interest in pleasing activities and lack of energy.(Symptoms2007) One of the key indicators that a depressed adult is contemplating suicide is self-report. (Symptoms2007) Often, adults are not treated for suicidal depression until after they had coiffe an attempt on their own life. (Symptoms2007) Treatment for long-term depression in adults typically consists of medication and extensive therapy. (Symptoms2007)They type and length of therapy is contingent on many factors. (Symptoms2007) These include the specialty of the therapist, the diagnosed underlying condition, and the severity of the depressive state. Similarly, the medical governance for adults with suicidal depression varies as a function of the underlying psychological cause for the depression. (Symptoms2007)Typical depressive mood disorders are treated with anti-depressants, while personality or perception disorders, which can lead to a secondary depressive condition, are best(p) treated with medication targeted to the underlying disorder. (Symptoms2007)As complicated as the diagnosis and intercession of suicidal depression is in adults, it is even more so in the adolescent population. ( immature self-annihilation2005) Suicide is the third-most common cause of death among individuals between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. (Teen Suicide2005)There are large gender differences in accounting for teen suicide, but they are explained more by the methods used, than any particular predilection toward the act. (Teen Suicide2005) 83% of adolescent suicides are males, whereas females make more attempts at suicide.(Teen Suicide2005) The discrepancy can be explained by the fact that males are far more likely to use a gun in their attempts, while the method of choice for females is pills. (Teen Suicide2005) Of the two, the chances for winner are practically high er among those who use a gun. (Teen Suicide2005) gibe to the National institute of Mental health, successful suicides among adolescents number somewhat 8 in 100,000. (Teen Suicide2005) Attempts at suicide are estimated to be much higher. (Teen Suicide2005)The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource circle around found that about nonpareil in five teens think about suicide, whiz in six behave actually planned for it, and one in twelve had attempted suicide in the past year(Teen Suicide2005) . As is the case with adults, most (about 90%) of adolescent suicide victims have an underlying mental disorder. (Teen Suicide2005)One moder theory of suicide in adolescence is espoused by Dr. David Elkind. He posits that there is a gap between physical and psychological development, which causes stress in the adolescent. (Elkind, 1998) Dr. Elkind theorizes that teenagers, who are often treated as adults at home and in schools, are not as complete in their psychological development as the y are in their physical development.(Elkind, 1998) This results, opines Dr. Elkind in a stressful dissonance that can lead to suicidal ideation. (Elkind, 1998) Additionally, exposing an adolescent to adult-type stressors, such as deadlines, appointments and specific goal-driven activities can cause stress. (Elkind, 1998) This stress can lead to depression and suicide. (Elkind, 1998)On the early(a) side of the coin, Dr. Elkind believes that over scheduling a young child may leave him or her bored when the social organization surrounding the child disappears in their teen years. (Elkind, 1998) This subsequent lack of military commission can also lead to depression. (Elkind, 1998)This theory suggests a preventative sales booth on teen suicide. (Elkind, 1998) Once an adolescent articulates a desire for suicide, or makes the attempt, Dr. Elkind recommends the standard psychological treatment, and medication, if warranted. (Elkind, 1998)A more environmental viewpoint is espoused by D r. Bronfenbrenner. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.) He views human development as an interaction between individuals and a form of bioecological systems. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.) He views any psychopathology, including teen depression or suicide as a dysfunction whose development is engendered by deficiencies in the mesosystem (immediate social surroundings) of the individual.(Paquette & Ryan, n.d.) This turn up to development does not lend itself particularly well to the treatment phase of suicide in adolescents, rather, it offers a socially-constructed theory for the phenomenon. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.)Preventative treatment in this trope would consist of fostering a healthy, positive mesosystem around the individual, so that they efficacy develop in a psychologically healthy manner. Again, one is strained to conclude that an already-depressed or suicidal teen would be best served by therapy and possible pharmaceutical remedies. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.)A more cognitive approach to adoles cent behavior is espoused by Dr. Robert Selman. (Selmans2002) His theories, which are derived from those of Piaget, rely on modeling and early(a) cognitive methods to explain behavior. (Selmans2002)As such, he would explain the phenomenon of adolescent suicide as a response to a social context where such behavior is adoptd to have a positive outcome. (Selmans2002) seldom would the cues be direct, but cultural stimuli such as music, television, and movies could inadvertently (or blatantly) idealize the practice of suicide, and compel an adolescent, especially one who already suffers from depression or some other psychological ailment to attempt suicide. (Selmans2002)Of these theories, the one whose suggested treatment appears to be most effective is Selmans. Cognitive therapy has been found to strike repeated suicide attempts by 50%. (Asher, 2005) While this particular ascertain focused on adults, there is little reason to think that the results would be demonstrably different w ith adolescents.(Asher, 2005) Interestingly, the same cannot be said of pharmaceutical treatment options. (DeNoon, 2002) It has been shown that teens who take antidepressants actually have an increased rate of suicide than those who do not. (DeNoon, 2002) Recent evidence suggests, however, that the same studies prove that the conclusion drawn from the information was erroneous, as the scientists failed to control for other variables such as severity of the depression, and other factors.(DeNoon, 2002) Despite these conflicting findings, or perhaps because of them, a therapist should be cautious about throwing drugs at the problem and dismissing a patient with a prescription. (DeNoon, 2002) In addition to the pitfalls of possible adverse effects of the drugs themselves, this kind of treatment is far more vulnerable to negative outcomes hinged on misdiagnosis.(DeNoon, 2002) If a about monitored patient is found to have another type of disorder, to which depression is notwithstanding a secondary characteristic, that therapist can make the appropriate pharmacological and therapeutic revisions. (DeNoon, 2002) If, on the other hand, an underlying condition is missed, and the patient discharged with antidepressants, the results could be tragic. (DeNoon, 2002)Owing to the nature of serotonin-stimulating drugs, which most antidepressants are, an effect of a non-depressed person fetching this medication is the onset of severe depression. (DeNoon, 2002) This would result in the therapist causation the very symptoms he or she is attempting to relieve. (DeNoon, 2002)The main commonality of all of these perspectives is the lack to monitor closely the disposition of the patient. The only way to differentiate true depression from a phasic anomaly of normal adolescent development is to observe the behavior and responses over a long peak of time.For example, behavior that strength be characterized as bipolar, buts of high energy and enthusiasm contrasted with lethargy a nd depression may be the normal reaction to hormone development in an adolescent. Without context, it is nigh impossible to tell the difference Thus, the best preventative measure would be to treat any suicidal ideation as a serious symptom and have a therapist interact for a long period with the adolescent. ReferencesAsher, J. (2005). Cognitive Therapy Reduces Repeat Suicide Attempts by 50 Percent. Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from The National Institutes of health (NIH) website http//www.nih.gov/ intelligence agency/pr/aug2005/nimh-02a.htmDeNoon, D. (2002) Teen Suicide, Antidepressant Link Questioned. Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from WebMD websitehttp//www.webmd.com/depression/news/20041215/teen-suicide-antidepressant-link-questionedElkind, D. (1998) All Grown Up and No Place To Go. Peresus Publishing, Cambridge, MA. Pp. 1-290.Paquette, D. & Ryan, J. (n.d.) Bronfenbrenners bionomic Systems Theory. Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from National-Louis University websitehttp//pt3.nl.e du/paquetteryanwebquest.pdfSelmans Five Stages of Perspective Taking, (2002) Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Everything-2 websitehttp//www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1275038Symptoms of Depression. (2007) retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Psychology 247 websitehttp//www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=depression_symptomsTeen Suicide Statistics. (2005) retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Teen Depression website http//www.teendepression.org/articles1.html