'Suicide and Adolescent Psychology\r'

'Adolescent Psychology is a difficult specialty within the field. m either an(prenominal) of the general configurations of jejune phylogeny imagine like pathologies, and perhaps would be classify as much(prenominal) if the uncomplainings were adults. Thus, it is difficult, even for a trained professional, to tell the difference among a true up pathology, and a â€Å" expression” mood or personality drill associated with young maturation.An argona where this deficiency sess jazz to grave circumstances is the ground of adolescent slack and self-annihilation. Although true dangerous tendencies bay window be difficult to view in adolescent manner, timely naming and proper sermon ar heavy goals of Adolescent psychologists. Although causal theories differ, the lotment of teenaged self-annihilation undertakes and picture is fairly accordant across adolescent theorists.Typical symptomology of suicidal tendencies in adults has several features. (Sympt oms…2007) The rudimentary mental political c group Aaign of such ideations is usu exclusivelyy low gear. (Symptoms…2007) Symptoms of depression all overwhelm sleeping pattern disruptions, feelings of low self-worth, redness of interest in pleasurable activities and escape of energy.(Symptoms…2007) One of the key indicators that a d deliver in the mouth adult is contemplating self-destruction is self-report. (Symptoms…2007) Often, adults are non set for suicidal depression until aft(prenominal) they had made an attempt on their own life. (Symptoms…2007)  Treatment for pertinacious-term depression in adults typically consists of medication and extensive therapy. (Symptoms…2007)They display case and length of therapy is contingent on many factors. (Symptoms…2007) These include the specialty of the therapist, the diagnosed underlying condition, and the cruelness of the depressive state. Similarly, the medical regime for adult s with suicidal depression varies as a function of the underlying psychological cause for the depression. (Symptoms…2007)Typical depressive mood disorders are treated with anti-depressants, while personality or perception disorders, which can lead to a supplemental depressive condition, are better treated with medication targeted to the underlying disorder. (Symptoms…2007)As complicated as the diagnosis and treatment of suicidal depression is in adults, it is even to a greater extent so in the adolescent population. ( teen self-annihilation…2005)   suicide is the third-most common cause of death among individuals amongst the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. (Teen self-destruction…2005) There are large gender differences in chronicle for teen suicide, but they are explained a good deal by the methods used, than any particular fancy toward the act. (Teen self-destruction…2005)  83% of adolescent suicides are males, whereas females make mor e attempts at suicide.(Teen self-annihilation…2005)  The discrepancy can be explained by the fact that males are far more likely to use a shoot in their attempts, while the method of survival for females is pills. (Teen Suicide…2005)  Of the two, the chances for success are much higher among those who use a gun. (Teen Suicide…2005) According to the National institute of rational health, successful suicides among adolescents number astir(predicate) 8 in 100,000. (Teen Suicide…2005)   Attempts at suicide are estimated to be much higher. (Teen Suicide…2005)The National Youth Violence cake Resource center prepare that virtually ch ampion in five teens forecast about suicide, nonpareil in 6 have in reality planned for it, and one in twelve had attempted suicide in the past year(Teen Suicide…2005)  . As is the case with adults, most (about 90%) of adolescent suicide victims have an underlying psychogenic disorder. (Teen S uicide…2005)One moder scheme of suicide in adolescence is espoused by Dr. David Elkind. He posits that there is a gap between natural and psychological discipline, which causes stress in the adolescent. (Elkind, 1998) Dr. Elkind theorizes that teenagers, who are oft treated as adults at sign and in schools, are not as complete in their psychological arisement as they are in their physical development.(Elkind, 1998) This results, opines Dr. Elkind in a stressful fraudulent scheme that can lead to suicidal ideation. (Elkind, 1998)  Additionally, exposing an adolescent to adult- face 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 another(prenominal) side of the coin, Dr. Elkind believes that over scheduling a young kidskin may leave him or her world-weary when the structure surrounding the child disappears in their teen years. (E lkind, 1998) This subsequent lack of oversight can also lead to depression. (Elkind, 1998)This conjecture suggests a preventative viewpoint 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 Dr. Bronfenbrenner. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.)  He views human development as an interaction between individuals and a system 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 complaisant surroundings) of the individual.(Paquette & Ryan, n.d.) This approach to development does not give itself particularly well to the treatment phase of suicide in adolescents, rather, it offers a socially-constructed theory for the p henomenon. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.)Preventative â€Å"treatment” in this double would consist of fostering a firm, cocksure mesosystem around the individual, so that they might develop in a psychologically healthy manner. Again, one is forced to conclude that an already-depressed or suicidal teen would be ruff served by therapy and come-at-able pharmaceutical remedies. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.)A more cognitive approach to adolescent behavior is espoused by Dr. Robert Selman. (Selman’s…2002) His theories, which are derived from those of Piaget, rely on modeling and other cognitive methods to explain behavior. (Selman’s…2002)As such, he would explain the phenomenon of adolescent suicide as a response to a social context where such behavior is detect to have a positive outcome. (Selman’s…2002) Rarely would the cues be direct, but heathen stimuli such as music, television, and movies could inadvertently (or blatantly) romanticise the practice of suicide, and compel an adolescent, especially one who already suffers from depression or more or less other psychological ailment to attempt suicide. (Selman’s…2002) Of these theories, the one whose suggested treatment appears to be most rearive is Selman’s. Cognitive therapy has been found to decrease repeated suicide attempts by 50%. (Asher, 2005) While this particular study focused on adults, there is littler reason to think that the results would be provably different with adolescents.(Asher, 2005) Interestingly, the like cannot be say 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 data was erroneous, as the scientists failed to control for other variables such as severity of the depression, and oth er factors.(DeNoon, 2002)  patronage these conflicting findings, or perhaps because of them, a therapist should be cautious about â€Å"throwing drugs at the problem” and dismissing a uncomplaining 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 damaging outcomes hinged on misdiagnosis.(DeNoon, 2002)  If a closely monitored patient is found to have another type of disorder, to which depression is merely a secondary characteristic, that therapist can make the withdraw pharmacological and therapeutic revisions. (DeNoon, 2002)  If, on the other hand, an underlying condition is missed, and the patient reject 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 taking this medication is the onset of severe depression. (DeNoon, 2002)  This would result in the therapist causing the very symptoms he or she is attempting to relieve. (DeNoon, 2002)The main commonality of all of these perspectives is the need to monitor closely the temperament 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 stopover of time.For example, behavior that might be characterized as bipolar, buts of high energy and enthusiasm contrasted with lethargy and depression may be the normal chemical reaction to hormone development in an adolescent. Without context, it is or so impossible to tell the difference Thus, the beaver 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). â€Å"Cognitive Therapy Reduces Repeat Suicide Attempts by 50 Percent.” Retrieved October 28th, 200 8 from The National Institutes of health (NIH) website: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/aug2005/nimh-02a.htm DeNoon, D. (2002) â€Å"Teen Suicide, antidepressant Link Questioned.” Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from WebMD website:http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20041215/teen-suicide-antidepressant-link-questionedElkind, D. (1998) totally Grown Up and No quad To Go. Peresus Publishing, Cambridge, MA. Pp. 1-290.Paquette, D. & Ryan, J. (n.d.) â€Å"Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory.” Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from National-Louis University website:http://pt3.nl.edu/paquetteryanwebquest.pdfâ€Å"Selmans vanadium Stages of Perspective Taking,” (2002) Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Everything-2 website:http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1275038â€Å"Symptoms of Depression”. (2007) retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Psychology 24×7 website:http://www.psychiatry24x7.com/bgdisplay.jhtml?itemname=depression_symptoms†Å"Teen Suicide Statistics.” (2005) retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Teen Depression website: http://www.teendepression.org/articles1.html\r\n'