Suicide and Adolescent Psychology

Adolescent Psychology is a difficult specialty within the field. Many of the mean(prenominal) phases of insipid development look like pathologies, and perhaps would be classified as such if the patients were adults. Thus, it is difficult, dismantle for a trained professional, to tell the difference between a true pathology, and a normal mood or personality pattern associated with insubstantial development.An atomic number 18a where this deficiency can lead to grave circumstances is the soil of juvenile slump and self-destruction. Although true suicidal tendencies can be difficult to spot in adolescent deportment, timely identification and proper treatment be important goals of Adolescent psychologists. Although causal theories differ, the treatment of puerile felo-de-se attempts and belief is fairly consistent across adolescent theorists.Typical symptomology of suicidal tendencies in adults has several features. (Symptoms2007) The funda intellectual psychological cause of such ideations is usually depression. (Symptoms2007) Symptoms of depression include sleeping pattern disruptions, feelings of low self-worth, privation of interest in pleasurable activities and lack of energy.(Symptoms2007) One of the key indicators that a depressed adult is contemplating suicide is self-report. (Symptoms2007) Often, adults be not interact for suicidal depression until after they had made an attempt on their bear life. (Symptoms2007) Treatment for long-term depression in adults typically consists of medication and extensive therapy. (Symptoms2007)They type and length of therapy is point 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 regime 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-depres sants, turn personality or perception disorders, which can lead to a secondary depressive condition, are better treated with medication targeted to the underlying disorder. (Symptoms2007)As complicated as the diagnosis and treatment of suicidal depression is in adults, it is even more so in the adolescent population. (Teen Suicide2005) 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, and 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 rat 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 weft for females is pills. (Teen Suicide2005) Of the two, the chances for success are much higher among those wh o use a gun. (Teen Suicide2005)According to the matter institute of Mental health, successful suicides among adolescents number about 8 in 100,000. (Teen Suicide2005) Attempts at suicide are estimated to be much higher. (Teen Suicide2005)The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource nitty-gritty run aground that about one in five teens think about suicide, one in cardinal consent actually planned for it, and one in twelve had attempted suicide in the erstwhile(prenominal) 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 El good-natured. 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 piazza and in schools, are not as complete in their psychological de velopment as they are in their physical development.(Elkind, 1998) This dissolvents, 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 an some other(prenominal) side of the coin, Dr. Elkind believes that over scheduling a young child may leave him or her bored when the structure surrounding the child disappears in their teen years. (Elkind, 1998) This subsequent lack of direction can similarly lead to depression. (Elkind, 1998)This theory suggests a antifertility 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 viewpo int is espoused by Dr. Bronfenbrenner. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.) He views world 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 social surroundings) of the individual.(Paquette & Ryan, n.d.) This lift 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 paradigm would consist of fostering a healthy, positive 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 best served by therapy and possible pharmaceutical remedies. (Paquette & Ryan, n.d.)A more cognitive adm ission to adolescent behavior is espoused by Dr. Robert Selman. (Selmans2002) His theories, which are derived from those of Piaget, rely on modeling and other 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 observed 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) glamorize the practice of suicide, and compel an adolescent, curiously 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 decrease repeated suicide attempts by 50%. (Asher, 2005) While this particular study focused on adults, there is little moderateness to think that the results would be demonstr ably different with adolescents.(Asher, 2005) Interestingly, the same cannot be said of pharmaceutical treatment options. (DeNoon, 2002) It has been shown that teens who hear antidepressants actually have an increased rate of suicide than those who do not. (DeNoon, 2002) Recent evidence suggests, however, that the same studies certify 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 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 closely monitored patient is found to have another type of disorder, to which depression is mer ely 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 dismissed 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 shoot to monitor closely the disposition of the patient. The only way to differentiate true depression from a phasic unusual person of normal adolescent development is to observe the behavior and responses over a long period 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 reaction to hormone development in an adolescent. Without context, it is almost 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/ word/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 Ecological Systems Theory. Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from National-Louis University websitehttp//pt3.nl.edu/paquetter yanwebquest.pdfSelmans Five Stages of Perspective Taking, (2002) Retrieved October 28th, 2008 from Everything-2 websitehttp//www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1275038Symptoms of belief. (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