Adolescence: psychopathological discomfort, distress or psychiatric disorder? Clinical experience, description and analysis of a sample

Minerva Pediatr. 2017 Apr;69(2):87-94. doi: 10.23736/S0026-4946.16.04228-6. Epub 2014 Dec 12.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to highlight how many psychopathological disorders emerging during adolescence are not easily detectable and interpretable.

Methods: We investigated the social, emotional and demographic factors related to psychopathological distress, measuring the overall functioning of the child/adolescent and the consequent impact on academic and social functioning, along with its implications on the emergence of feelings of discomfort and anxiety.

Results: Many psychopathological disorders are easily detectable and diagnosable in this particular stage of life, and although they are rooted in adolescent distress, they can generate real psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions: The data emerging from clinical practice stress the need for a comprehensive in order to identify possible subclinical symptoms for onset of mental illness, so as to be able to implement more targeted and less invasive therapeutic strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology*