Adolescent Mental Health: Case Study

Mental Health and Well-being in Middle and Late Adolescence

• Psychological well-being refers to an individual's state or condition free from mental or other conditions.

Activity 1: Case Presentation

• Interview a classmate about their past and present psychological well-being, covering eating disorders, depression, drug dependency/addiction, mood and anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, antisocial disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
• Research the specific disorder your classmate discusses.
• Investigate how and when the disorder was surpassed.
• Formulate a reasoned hypothesis about why the disorder was surpassed.
• Include prevention and intervention strategies in the case presentation.
• Attach the presentation in Microsoft Word or WPS format.
• Include a certification document or proof of the interview in the report.

Different Types of Mental Disorders

• Eating disorder
• Anxiety Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Conduct Disorder
• Personality Disorder
• Substance-Related Disorder
• Computer Addiction

Eating Disorder

• It involves unhealthy eating behaviors, a distorted body image, and an intense focus on food.
• Low self-esteem, lack of social support, weight-related teasing, and pressure to lose weight link to negative body image in teenagers, according to a 2007 Study by Ata, Luden, and Lally.
• Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, and severe dietary restrictions.
• Bulimia nervosa is defined by cycles of binge eating followed by purging behaviors, such as induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives, to prevent weight gain.
• Unlike people with anorexia, individuals with bulimia may maintain a normal weight.

Anxiety Disorder

• It includes phobic, panic, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, all characterized by excessive fear, anxiety, and related behavioral disturbances.
• Phobic anxiety is accompanied by physical symptoms like trembling and palpitations.
• Aquaphobia, hemophobia, acrophobia and claustrophobia are forms of anxiety disorders.
• Panic attacks are characterized by an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort.

Major Depressive Disorder

• People are characterized by hopelessness, lack of energy, crying for unexplained reasons, and low self-esteem.
• Those with major depressive disorder experience loss of interest, cannot make decisions, and blame/hurt themselves.
• Major depressive disorder is caused by heredity and environmental factors.

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive disorder and includes depression and manic periods.
• It is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression)

Conduct Disorder

• It involves a repeated pattern of behaviors that violate others' basic rights.
• Those with conduct disorder may violate policies, rules, and regulations, potentially leading to illegal acts.

Personality Disorder

• Paranoid personality disorder manifests as a pattern of distrust and suspiciousness of others' motives, often leading to fear.
• Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by disregard for or violation of others’ rights, with individuals not caring if their actions harm others, prioritizing their desires even at others' expense.
• Histrionic personality disorder is marked by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors; includes crying without reason, or acting like a baby to gain attention.
• Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by grandiosity, self-centeredness, a focus on oneself, and a strong need for admiration.
• Avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation, leading to a preference for being alone to avoid social activities due to the fear of judgement.
• Dependent personality disorder is manifested by submissive and clinging behavior due to an excessive need to be taken care of. Some adolescents cannot work alone, feeling helpless if unattended, and demanding constant presence.
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with orderliness, perfectionism, and control.

Substance-Related Disorders

• A drug is an active substance such as alcohol, caffeine, marijuana, and tobacco, whose chemical action alters the biological and psychological functioning.

Computer Addiction

• Characterized by excessive computer or Internet use, it involves preoccupation with online activities and compulsive behaviors, causing difficulty in controlling or regulating computer use.