Depression test for teenagers - Methods to properly diagnose
Children and teenager depression symptoms are usually similar. Luckily, a depression test for teenagers can be conducted. Several authors have proposed specific criteria for diagnosing depression in teenagers, although commonly used are those of the DMS IV applied to children with minor qualifications or ICD-10 that are specific to young population.Symptoms & More
In order to get deep onto depression test for teenagers, below you will find an approach to depressive symptoms, the criteria of Weinberg (1973) that constitute a clear set of operational criteria specifically aimed at diagnosing depression in teenagers. The extended position currently holds that childhood and adult depression are similar, although the age modulates the characteristics and the negative impact of the disorder.
Depression Rating
Teenagers’ depression is a complex disorder that includes cognitive, psycho physiological and motor, which differ according to circumstances. The psychological assessment process is to obtain relevant, reliable and valid child and others related to it. There are several difficulties that arise. The first lies in the disparity of procedures make comparison between studies. A second refers to the difficulty of using self-assessment tests on young individuals. Finally note that a small amount of specific depression test for teenagers is out there to assess these disorders in teenagers, although progress has been made in previous years in our country.
The paper and pencil tests, including self-registration, are used after 6 years, which is the normal age for beginning reading and writing. However, we must always ensure that the depression test for teenagers is comprehensible before he or she experiences difficulties or mental retardation.
Data collection
The first data collection will take place around the patient environment, parents and other family, teachers, friends and classmates as well as others who can relate to the individual in question. Experts emphasize on the depression questionnaire based on the amount of information provided. Yet, its application is restricted up to 16 years old. The examiner often reads the different elements of proof aloud, although the teenager should be able to read and understand if it is convenient to do the depression test for teenagers alone and from the presentation of cards that contain different questions.
The authors of the test (M. Lang and M. Tisher) recommend that both parents are also those conducting the test assessing the young adult feelings. The test gives us two separate general subscales: Depressive Total - Total Positive. The test is edited by TEA-Editions. The Self-Registration is also a fundamental part of the evaluation and is widely used in cases of teenager but more on children depression.
Behavior therapy typically used to collect information:
- Number of enjoyable activities
- Level of satisfaction measured in pleasurable activities with estimated scale
- Evaluated mood scale also estimates
Cognitive therapy
After the depression test for teenagers, self-registration is carried out in three columns:
- In the left column details the triggering situations.
- In the middle column describes the automatic thoughts and credibility with scale estimation.
- On the right, write down the emotions experienced and its intensity, as also with scale estimation.
Treatment
A pharmacological level, depression in teenagers, has dealt mainly with tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine). Doctors have also prescribed selective inhibitors of serotonin reuptake (fluoxetine) and known as MAO inhibitors. Lithium carbonate has been used a preventative of bipolar disorders. Currently an open debate persists about convenience and / or effectiveness of this medication among professionals in medicine and psychiatry.
Overall studies display that when doctors ask patients to combine drugs and psychotherapy, results are great. However, this would be a general principle and everyone should be cautious with the peculiarities of each individual. Regards to psychological treatment, nobody has established a unique treatment, the tendency is still to use a wide range of techniques and programs that include behavioral components (planning of pleasant activities, social skills and relaxation) and cognitive (cognitive restructuring, problem-solving techniques or reallocation). These components would be in line with the two major psychological models (Beck's cognitive model and that of Seligman's learned helplessness).
In short, Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in both school populations with depressive symptoms, and in adolescents with clinical depression and preventing relapse. The success of cognitive behavioral therapy appears to be related to the severity of the lower and lower age of adolescents. So, after conducting a depression test for teenagers, this type of program, as noted, include cognitive analysis with the recognition of emotions, their relation to behavior and cognition and cognitive change negative attributions. On the other hand it includes behavioral intervention such as social skills training, assistance in problem solving and other processes such as molding or relaxation. Regarding the latter, we note that it is one of the most effective tools to treat especially for children. Many have also found positive results using it as a single treatment, although it is unclear which profile of children could benefit from this unique treatment. The commonly used type of relaxation is called Jacobson's progressive (strengthening exercises - muscle relaxation), which teaches the relationship between stress, muscle tension and depression.