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Mood
disorders describe a range of behavioral issues that
may occur in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. We
will focus on mood disorders in teenagers, because in
this unique population these behavioral problems may
express themselves in ways that make diagnosis more
difficult.
| Mood
disorders affect as many as 7% of Americans in any
given year. The most common types are depression
or mania (or a combination, known as bipolar disorder).
Major depressive disorder is the most common diagnosis,
and occurs twice as often in women as in men. Mood
disorders are considered one of the top ten causes
of disability worldwide. |
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Parents
often miss depression in their teenagers. Undiagnosed
depression can cause serious life-long problems with
achievement, socialization, and health in general. The
worst complication of uncontrolled depression is suicide.
To learn more about the way depression expresses itself
among adolescents, click
here.
Learn more on Adolescent Mood Disorders
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