The 8 most common mental disorders in adolescence

Mental problems do not only occur in adulthood, but approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents suffer from a psychological disorder.

In fact, many of the more common disorders, such as mood and anxiety disorders, frequently develop or begin to manifest during adolescence and youth.

• Related article: "The 16 most common mental disorders"

Common psychological disorders in adolescence

In this article we will describe eight of the most common mental health problems in adolescence. All of them are caused to a greater or lesser extent by an interaction between the biological predisposition and the effects of the environment, and their symptoms tend to resemble those of adults more the older they are the age of the adolescent.

1. Major depression and dysthymia

According to DSM-IV, major depressive disorder is characterized by the presence of a state of mind pathologically low and difficulty in obtaining pleasure through rewarding activities (anhedonia). The dysthymia It is a depressive disorder whose symptoms are less intense but remain chronically, for at least 2 years.

Depressive disorders are twice as common in women than in men and they start in a more frequent in the third and fourth decades of life, although they can appear at any age. The experience of traumatic experiences and the learning of depressive beliefs during childhood they are relevant factors in their development.

• Related article: "Are there several types of depression?"

2. Generalized anxiety disorder

People with generalized anxiety disorder worry excessively and systematically because of their negative, often irrational expectations. This causes associated physical and cognitive symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, stomach pain, sweating, and muscle tension.

Like depression, generalized anxiety disorder is twice as common in women. It is very common for people with this problem to also be diagnosed with other anxiety and mood disorders, especially dysthymia.

• You may be interested: "Generalized Anxiety Disorder: symptoms, causes and treatment"

3. Substance abuse and dependence

Consumption of psychoactive substances, such as alcohol, cannabis wave cocaine, commonly begins during adolescence. Although many adolescents carry out occasional consumption or abandon it after a while, in other cases Substance abuse or dependence disorders may develop with a high risk of chronification.

4. Oppositional Defiant and Conduct Disorders

Conduct disorder is a less severe, early-onset variant of antisocial personality disorder. Criteria for Conduct Disorder include the use of physical and verbal violence against people or other animals, theft, destruction of other people's property or serious violations of rules by parents and the academic center.

An associated problem is Oppositional Defiant Disorder, which is diagnosed in children and adolescents who disobey adults, have a marked tendency to anger and accuse other people of their wrongdoing behaviour. The diagnostic criteria for these conduct disorders have been criticized for including ethical value judgments.

5. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are frequently associated with adolescence and youth, although they can appear at any time in life. Psychosocial factors are currently contributing to a Advancement of the mean age of onset of these eating disorders in much of the world.

Binge eating disorder is a disorder that falls into the same category and has recently been included in the DSM-5. It is characterized by the presence of binge eating episodes similar to those that take place in the bulimia, although it is associated with obesity as there are no compensatory behaviors such as induction of threw up.

• Related article: "The 10 most common eating disorders"

6. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The controversial attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is usually diagnosed in childhood. In more than half of the cases the symptoms remit in adolescence and youth, but in the rest they persist during adult life. ADHD involves an increase in likelihood of developing addictions, depression, or anxiety disorders.

Since the popularization of the diagnosis of ADHD is relatively recent, it is common to find similar alterations in adults diagnosed with impulse control disorders, as well as other psychological problems related to impulsivity and agitation psychophysiological.

7. Social phobia

People with social anxiety disorder, better known as social phobia, feel great discomfort in situations involving interaction with other people. This can cause the physical and cognitive symptoms of panic attacks, such as rapid heartbeat and breathing difficulties. In many cases it is due to rejection or bullying.

8. Adaptive and stress disorders

Adjustment disorders are diagnosed when the person has anxiety or depressive symptoms of moderate intensity as a consequence of significant life events. These problems are more common in young people, including adolescents, since they tend to have less effective strategies to cope with the stress.

Something similar happens with acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. While the first tag is used when the symptoms caused by a traumatic event last less than one month, PTSD is a more severe and long-lasting variant that carries a high risk of suicide.