The HEALTH | OCTOBER , 2018

DEPRESSION

The increase in divorce rates or the parents that choose to stay together for the sake of the children but unintentionally subjecting their children to often choose between parents in arguments and bear witness to scenes where ugly words are exchanged too easily . Whilst these are the more commonplace reasons within the family context where clinical depression can arise , we can also not exclude the possibility of physical and even sexual abuse .

For children in their early teens , clinical depression present more atypically as physical ailments , for example persistent and unexplained abdominal pain , social withdrawal and refusal to attend school .

Destructive behavior

Children in mid to late teens may engage in multiple forms of destructive behavior . Recreational drug usage can be seen as a form of self-medication . Mixing with the “ wrong type ” in school may be a result of needing approval of a peer group , a feeling of belonging that the young adults do not experience at home . There are children that self-harm by using sharp objects to cut their forearms or other parts of their body , causing

“ For children in their early teens , clinical depression present more atypically as physical ailments , for example persistent and unexplained abdominal pain , social withdrawal and refusal to attend school .”

superficial injuries . More dangerously , there are young women and men who overdose on prescription or illegal drugs . Assessments of these suicidal attempts have to be done carefully to distinguish between action and intent .

Most are what we commonly refer to as “ cry for help ” as

BY DR LU-ANN CHONG

THE role of a psychiatrist is to first offer a confidential , non-judgmental setting where the client feel safe in sharing what their troubles are . When the clients openly share their worries , problems and concerns , a skilled psychiatrist can pick up symptoms to alert them to the presence of clinical depression or not , asking open questions in a non-directive manner .

Prince Court Medical Centre consultant psychiatrist Dr Lu-Ann Chong explained that this form of conversation exchange is more natural and intuitive approach to correcting , detecting and confirming clinical depression

opposed to a genuine desire to die . Young adults that engage in this sort of self-harming behavior do not necessarily have clinical depression . It arises from a maladaptive form of coping with stress and rejection . In fact , it is very common for a young adult who has selfinjured to express a sense of relief on doing so . When gently questioned further , most will say that the pain they incur on themselves helps relieve the feeling of numbness or stress they feel inside .

One useful way to look at reasons why someone presents with clinical depression at different stages of their lives can look at what type of challenges that person will typically face and have to overcome at that particular stage of life . Young adults in their late teens and early twenties are struggling with finding or defining their own self-identity .

Knowing what these are ; means that there are possibilities to put in safeguards to help people gain access help . For example , counselors at school settings is a safety net for children and young adults to get access to psychiatric help .

Dr Lu-Ann Chong is a consultant psychiatrist at Prince Court Medical Centre .

compared to the “ tickbox ” approach to asking direct questions .

The right treatment starts first with the right diagnosis . The often repeated statement that antidepressants do not work is because they are often given to the wrong type of patients . Different antidepressants have different side effects profile , depending on the age , gender and health condition of the patient .

In addition , psychiatrists offer a safe place where the patient is able to ventilate their worst fears without the deep seated fear of rejection or being punished .

CLINICAL depression is a condition that is very different from the feeling low in mood . Firstly , there is a strict diagnostic criteria that trained specialist adheres to in order to make the diagnosis .

In order to fulfil the criteria for clinical depression , one must have pervasive low mood that is sustained for at least two weeks . In addition , there is a reduction in energy levels and loss of capacity of enjoyment . Interest and concentration is also reduced . Sufferers complain of marked tiredness after even minimum effort . Sleep is usually disturbed and so is appetite . There can be a decrease or increase in sleep and appetite . There is loss of self-esteem and self-confidence , alongside ideas about feelings of guilt and worthlessness . These can often be accompanied by suicidal thoughts and without proper intervention , suicidal acts itself .

There are no blood tests or concrete investigations that can produce this diagnosis , and therefore skilled talking sessions with psychiatrists can differentiate between clinical depression which is serious and require treatment from normal everyday sadness .

HOWCAST