Violence and Depression in Adolescents - Violence and Depression

Written by M. Allan Cooperstein, Ph.D.

Epilogue

Through my involvement with Ronny I encountered many serious deficits within the mental health system including:

1. Professionals lacking skill and understanding of the developmental milestones of typical adolescents and the ability to discriminate between youngsters needing counseling, intensive psychotherapy, and/or medication
2. The use of minimal or no psychodiagnostics -this is of particular significance as adolescents may show psychotic-like behaviors, which can be verified psychometrically.

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3. Inappropriate facilities/environments for adolescents in acute distress.
4. The impact of managed care and time-limited treatment on chronically disturbed adolescents.
5. Overworked staff and understaffed mental health facilities.
6. Adolescents without sufficiently involved parents or relatives who fall through the sizeable cracks in our mental health or juvenile justice systems.
7. Minimal or non-existent social services where this critical support area is desperately needed.
8. Lack of cohesive case management and coordination, resulting in fragmented, inconsistent treatment.

Dr. Rosenthal predicts that the next decade will bring "exciting changes in the recognition and treatment of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Parents and physicians alike are now beginning to accept that such disorders as phobias, panic attacks, depression, generalized anxiety and bipolar illnesses as well as schizophrenia do not magically appear at age 18, but often have antecedents in childhood. As teachers, pediatricians and other individuals with frontline contacts with children become more in tune with these diagnoses, the interventions for children will become more plentiful, the proper diagnosis and treatment will be made earlier, and children will be less likely to be labeled as 'bad kids' and more likely to be helped with our growing body of knowledge.

next: Child Abuse and Adult Depression: The Harsh Reality

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References

Arnett, J. J. (1999). Adolescent Storm and Stress, Reconsidered. American Psychologist, 54, 5, 317-326.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (1994). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Knapp, S., VandeCreek, L., & Tepper, A. (1998). Pennsylvania law and psychology (3rd ed.) Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Psychological Association.

Knapp, S. (1, June). Three rules for addressing school violence. The Pennsylvania Psychologist, 1, 7.

National Institutes of Health. 6001 Executive Boulevard, Rm. 8184, MSC 9663, Bethesda, MD 20892-9663.

M. Allan Cooperstein, Ph.D. 303 Greyhorse Road Willow Grove, PA 19090 Website: http://members.tripod.com/allanpsych

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