Mental Illnesses Common at Adolescence

Although psychiatric disturbances are only a little more in adolescence than in the middle years of childhood, the pattern of disorder is markedly different, being closer to that of adults. As mentioned by Graham and Rutter (1885), about two–fifths of adolescents with psychiatric conditions showed emotional disorders of some kind. Most of these were anxiety states, depression or some kind of relative disorders.

Anxiety disorders
The generalized anxiety disorder was 3.7% & separation anxiety was 1% in adolescents (kaplon & Sadock 1998). Incidence of panic disorder was found to be 0.6% animal phobias get replaced by social phobia and agoraphobia. Similarly school refusal shows an increase in frequency but reason is not only a separation anxiety but more likely to form part of widespread emotional disturbance. Clear–cut hysterical reactions and obsessive–compulsive disorders become more common during adolescence (Graham & Rutter 1985)

Identity disorders in Teens
The disturbance due to severe subjective distress over an inability to reconcile aspects of the self into a relatively coherent and acceptable sense of self is manifested by uncertainty about a variety of issues relating to identity such as goals, career choice, friendship, sexual behavior, moral values and group loyalties. It is not actually a mental disorder but it is some times manifest in the contest of such mental disorders as mood disorders, psychotic disorder or borderline personality disorder (gelder 1983).

Depression
There is a major increase in the frequency of depressive conditions of all types. Either depression will show typical clinical depression or may reflect in poor academic performance, sexual promiscuity, truancy or running away (kapplan & Sadock, 1998). Studies show that the higher incidence of depressions in females begins in adolescence, when roles and expectations change dramatically. Along with other stressors, hormonal changes may be associated more often with depressions in females. Studies also indicate that individual with certain characteristic–pessimistic thinking, low self esteem, a sense of having control over life events and proneness to excessive worrying are more likely to develop depression. Some experts have suggested that the traditional upbringing of girls might foster these traits and that may be a factor in the higher rate of depression. Study by Riedon and Koff (1997) indicated that the more subjective and personal measures of weight related body image discontent–weight dissatisfaction and weight concerns were associated with increased depressive symptoms.

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