Mental problems do not only occur in adulthood, but approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents suffer from some psychological disorder . In fact, many of the most common disorders, such as mood and anxiety disorders, often develop or start to manifest themselves during adolescence and youth.

Common psychological disorders in adolescence

In this article we will describe 8 of the most common mental health problems in adolescence . All of them are caused to a greater or lesser extent by an interaction between biological predisposition and the effects of the environment, and their symptoms tend to be more similar to those of adults the older the adolescent is.

Major depression and dysthymia

According to the DSM-IV, major depressive disorder is characterized by the presence of a pathologically low mood and difficulty in obtaining pleasure through the performance of rewarding activities (anhedonia). Dysthymia is a depressive disorder whose symptoms are less intense but remain chronic for at least 2 years.

Depressive disorders are twice as common in women as in men and start more often in the third and fourth decades of life, although they can appear at any age. Living through traumatic experiences and learning depressive beliefs during childhood are relevant factors in their development.

2. Generalized anxiety disorder

People with GAD worry excessively and consistently because of their negative, often irrational, expectations. This leads to associated physical and cognitive symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, stomach pain, sweating and muscle tension .

Like depression, generalized anxiety disorder is twice as common in women. It is very common for people with this problem to be diagnosed with other anxiety and mood disorders as well, especially dysthymia.

3. Substance abuse and dependence

The use of psychoactive substances, such as alcohol, cannabis or cocaine, commonly starts during adolescence. Although many adolescents use these substances occasionally or stop using them after a while, in other cases, abuse or dependency disorders may develop, with a high risk of becoming chronic.

4. Dyssocial and oppositional defiant disorders

Dyssocial disorder is an early-onset, less severe variant of antisocial personality disorder. Criteria for dissocial disorder include the use of physical and verbal violence against people or other animals, theft, destruction of other people’s property, or serious violations of parental and school rules.

An associated problem is oppositional defiant disorder, which is diagnosed in children and adolescents who disobey adults, have a marked tendency to become angry, and accuse others of their misbehavior. The diagnostic criteria for these conduct disorders have been criticized for including ethical value judgments.

5. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are often associated with adolescence and youth, although they can occur at any time in life. Psychosocial factors are now contributing to an earlier average age of onset of these eating disorders in much of the world.

Binge eating disorder is a disorder in the same category that has recently been included in the DSM-5. It is characterized by the presence of binge eating episodes similar to those that occur in bulimia, although it is associated with obesity in the absence of compensatory behaviors such as vomit induction.

6. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The controversial ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood. In more than half of the cases the symptoms remit in adolescence and youth, but in the rest of the cases they are maintained throughout adult life. ADHD implies an increased probability of developing addictions, depression or anxiety disorders .

Since the popularization of the diagnosis of ADHD is relatively recent, it is common to find similar alterations in adults diagnosed with impulse control disorders, as well as other psychological problems related to impulsivity and psychophysiological agitation.

7. Social phobia

People with social anxiety disorder, better known as social phobia, feel great discomfort in situations involving interaction with other people . This can lead to the physical and cognitive symptoms of anxiety attacks, such as tachycardia and breathing difficulties. In many cases it is due to rejection or bullying.

8. Adaptive and Stress Disorders

Adaptive disorders are diagnosed when the person presents anxious or depressive symptoms of moderate intensity as a consequence of significant life events. These problems are more common in young people, including adolescents, as they tend to have less effective strategies for coping with stress.

Something similar happens with acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. While the first label is used when the symptoms caused by a traumatic event last less than a month, PTSD is a more serious and longer-lasting variant that carries a high risk of suicide.