Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells, a pediatrician specializing in ADHD, discusses signs and causes of mental health disorders in teens. Topics include depression, anxiety, treatment plans, and strategies for supporting teens facing mental health challenges.
Recognizing signs of depression in teens with ADHD includes mood swings, sleep changes, and academic struggles.
Comprehensive ADHD treatment reduces the risk of depression and anxiety in teenagers, promoting overall well-being.
Deep dives
Identifying Signs of Depression in Teens
In teenagers, hallmark symptoms of depression include irritability, mood swings, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty in school, and potential suicidal thoughts. Teenage depression can present with variable and fluctuating symptoms that may include mood swings and academic struggles, sometimes masking the condition for an extended period.
Links Between Anxiety and ADHD in Teens
Teenagers with anxiety can display symptoms like irritability, concentration difficulties, and excessive worry. Anxiety in teens often stems from an overdeveloped fight or flight response, resulting in various physical and verbal expressions of anxiety. Understanding these manifestations is crucial in recognizing anxiety in teenagers, especially those with ADHD, as symptoms can overlap.
Causes and Gender Differences in Depression in Teens
Depression in teenagers integrates genetic predisposition, situational triggers like isolation, trauma, and under or untreated ADHD. Genetic factors can predispose some individuals to chronic depression, yet external triggers like environmental stressors and untreated ADHD can also contribute to depressive symptoms. Gender differences play a role in how depression manifests in teens, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches to treatment.
Preventive Measures for Depression in Teens with ADHD
Optimally treating ADHD serves as a potent preventive measure against depression and anxiety in teenagers. Comprehensive ADHD treatment lowers the risk of mental health issues and enhances overall well-being. Multimodal approaches that combine medication, therapy, coaching, and support systems show promising results in reducing the likelihood of depression and anxiety in teens with ADHD.
Have you wondered if your child has depression or anxiety and if these could be connected to their ADHD? What signs should you keep an eye out for and how can you be supportive?
In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells, a board certified pediatrician with a special interest in ADHD, learning issues, and mental and behavioral health, talks about the signs and causes of different mental health disorders in teens and the common treatment plans available. She also shares strategies that can be used by friends and family to support teens who are facing mental health challenges.
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