The Adolescent Pathology Scale (APS) was first administered in 1998 (Reynolds, 1998). The APS ambitiously measures 40 dimensions of adolescent psychopathology. (Konold, 2001). 25 of these dimensions are a reflection from the DSM-IV. The APS scales includes: 20 scales of clinical disorders, 5 scales of personality disorders, 11 scales of psychosocial problems, and 4 scales of response style indicators. There are also three additional factors (Internalizing, Externalizing, and Personality) that can be obtained by the combination of various scales (Konold, 2001). The author states that the APS is not intended to provide for a formal diagnosis of various disorders (Piersel, 2001). In addition, the APS-short form assesses the frequency of symptoms
...to change of youth treatment outcome measures: A comparison of the CBCL, BASC-2 and Y-OQ. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67, 11-125.
Co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are quite prevalent in today’s society. Treatment and prevention of co-occurring disorders are both critical topics. However, professionals across the board cannot seem to agree on what is the best way to approach these topics. Perhaps the most ‘at-risk’ demographic for substance use are adolescents, ages 12 – 17. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2011) Thankfully, more and more research has been conducted in the areas of adolescents and co-occurring disorders over the past few decades. However, since treating and preventing co-occurring disorders in adolescents is so monumental for their proper development and for their future as adults, the research must continue.
This assessment was designed to interpret the mind of an adolescent utilizing and integrating his theory into the assessment. Based on the different general outlines of personality, the levels of personality, and the domains of personality, the assessment was designed to predict of help develop a hypothesis of what is troubling an adolescent mentally. There are four different assessments within the MACI broken by age and by gender. There is one assessment for males 13-15, one for females 13-15, one for males 16-19, and one for females 16-19. “The MACI has 31 scales divided into three clinical domains (clinical sydromes, expressed concerns, and personality styles) and a fourth domain consisting of three modifying indices (desirability, disclosure, and debasement) plus a basic validity check.” (Pinto & Grilo, p. 1508, 2004) The MACI was intended to work with the DSM-IV diagnoses for predicting likelihood of a clinical symptom in an adolescent. In the Mental Measurements Yearbook, Sandoval points out there are 31 scales in the MACI and the self- report system allows the personality and predisposition of the adolescent to be rated by the expert on themselves. It is intended to measure common adolescent issues, such as: mood disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, alcohol and substance use, ADHD, etc. The participants in the assessment take a 160 question, true or false format assessment, which
The MACI consists of a 160-item inventory, provided in the English and Spanish language, with a combination of the 27 subscales. The intention of the inventory is to provide counselors and other healthcare or school professional with information to assist in diagnosis and treatment planning for personality disorders in adolescent (Millon & Davis, 1993). The inventory consists of true or false questions; given that this inventory is shorter compared to other personality assessment, it only takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. Millon’s MACI inventory provides convenient and cost-effective methods for scoring the inventory, which include Q-global web-based scoring, Q-Local software-based scoring, and mail-in scoring. Since the MACI is tailored toward adolescents ranging in ages from 13-19, participants must have a minimum of a sixth grade reading level in order to
The sample consisted of adolescents between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, who met the criteria for DSM-III-R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987), major depression and with the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et. al., 1988) score greater than or equal to 13 (p. 907). All participants were nonpsychotic, non-bipolar, without obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, or ongoing physical and/or sexual abuse. There were 122 adolescents who were eligible for the study but only 107 (87.7%) participants agreed to randomization. One third (32.7%) of participants were chosen through
In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established that 6.3% of high school students have attempted suicide in the preceding year. Given the lethal consequences of suicide attempts, determining risk factors among adolescents becomes especially important. Generally speaking, psychiatric disorders and substantial psychosocial impairments are known to be associated with suicide attempts. However, previous research attempting to identify specific risk factors in adolescents is somewhat ambiguous. Nonetheless, one thing is consistent. When measuring the risk of an adolescent committing suicide, information must come from a variety of sources and perspectives. These sources may include but are not limited to a clinical interview with the adolescent, information provided by the parent or guardian, standardized assessments and previous psychiatric documents from the individual.
Adolescence is a time of emotional turmoil, mood lability, gloomy introspection, great drama and heightened sensitivity. It is a time of rebellion and behavioral experimentation. The physician's challenge is to identify depressive symptomatology which may be superimposed on the backdrop of a more transient, but expected, developmental storm.
Woodvard, L. J. & Fergusson, D. M. (2001). Life Course Outcomes of Young People with Anxiety Disorders in Adolescence. Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1081-1093.
With children as early as age 7 showing dissatisfaction with their body, and as young as 9 starting dieting, eating disorders are a serious issue in our society. Taking a look at perceptions, behaviors, and medical issues associated with the disorders of anorexia and bulimia, scholars have tried to categorize and find answers to the problems which certain adolescents suffer. In this paper I focused on the two major eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.
Identification of any psychosocial or contextual factors to be considered, as outlined in the DSM-5
The names used in this Adolescent Observation Report are fictitious. This is absolutely necessary to protect the privacy of the adolescent being observed.
The Beck Youth Inventory Test was developed in 2001 by Judith Beck, Aaron Beck, John Jolly, and Robert Steer. The purpose of this psychological testing tool is a brief self-report to measure the distress in children and adolescents (Flanagan & Henington, 2005). The Beck Youth Inventory includes using five self-administered scales. The five tests include the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Anger Inventory, Beck Disruptive Inventory, and the Beck Self-Concept Inventory. These tests can be administered individually or in combination to the youth. The intended population for this test is ages 7-14 years (Flanagan & Henington, 2005). This test is used to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, disruptive behavior, and self esteem (Beck, 2001).
The period of adolescence is a time of immense changes, both biologically and socially, through self-discovery and identification. During adolescence, the human body goes through a wave of hormonal changes in preparation for sexual reproduction. As the individual reaches adulthood, this process is called puberty (Arnett, 2015, p. 350). In addition to the physical changes, teens undergo many social and psychological changes as they approach adulthood, preparing them for the many responsibilities to come (Arnett, 2015, p. 350). Adolescence is constructed by changes in relation to the physical, cognitive, and emotional states of an individual. Within each of these developmental areas, teens mature in varying ways. In regards to physical changes, adolescents undergo the previously mentioned process of puberty, but they also face many issues such as eating disorders and substance abuse (Arnett, 2015, p. 357-359). For cognitive development, teens undergo
Humans are environmentally and genetically predisposed to developing a motivated addictive behavior. Addiction is a brain disease and a behavior. All behaviors are choices. Choices that adolescences make at a young age directly affect the outcomes of their futures. Many factors contribute to an adolescence becoming an addict or exhibiting a drug seeking behavior. Nearly all drugs of abuse increase dopamine release. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine plays a role in reward motivated behaviors, motor control and important hormones. It’s known as the “feel good hormone” which is why people abuse drugs that increase the release of dopamine. Since life is unpredictable, our brains have evolved the ability to remodel themselves in response to our experiences. The more we practice an activity the more neurons developed in order to fine-tune that activity causing addictive behaviors to be detrimental.
Suicidal tendencies in adolescents begin around the ages of 10 through 19, with warning signs, prevention, treatment, and the causes and effects it has on the human psyche. Suicide is when someone decides to take his or her own life because and are suffering from a painful mental treatable illness and have lost hope in who they are. Because when hope is lost, some feel like suicide is the only solution to truly make the adolescents pain go away permanently. Scientific evidence that shows the people who have committed suicide had a diagnosable treatable mental disorder or substance abuse disorder (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2010). Those people might have been suffering from illness such as depression, mood disorders, personality disorders and or suffering from bullying. Being a victim of bullying can be linked to suicidal thoughts as well as behavior in adolescents. Other causes might also include having family problems at home, problems at work, school and or with school peers. Suicide is a serious problem though it not only affects the victim, but it also affects family members, loved ones, along with friends.