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| Affective Disorders |
Affective Disorders
Affective disorders refer to mood disorders, mood being an emotion that in the extreme affects a person’s ability to function (Varcarolis, 1994). Psychiatric diagnoses included in this subgroup are depression, dysthymia (a mild to moderate depression that is present for years), and bipolar disorder all of which are common in youthful offenders. Depression is one of the most treatable mental health disorders yet suicide, a known outcome of depression, is the third leading cause of death in adolescents in the U.S. Three adolescents in the custody of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections committed suicide in 2002-2003 by hanging themselves (Crawford, 2003). Recent reports indicate an increased incidence of depression in detained females (Baerger, et al, 2001; Teplin, et al, 2002) suggesting that an undiagnosed mental health disorder is associated with delinquent behavior. Substantial evidence exists that adolescents with a history of maltreatment or who have high intellectual ability manifest higher levels of depression (Finzi, Ram, Shrit, Har-Even, Tyano, & Weizman, 2001; Messier & Ward, 1998). These findings are similar to the results of other studies indicating increased incidences of delinquency in early maturing youth and maltreated adolescents (Caspi, et al, 1993; Graber, et al 2004; Jonson-Reid, 2002; Kaltiala-Heino, et al, 2003; Keiley, et al; 2001; Kinard, 2002, Mohr & Tulman, 2000; Molnar, et al, 2003; Preski & Shelton, 2001; Shelton, 2000).
Affective disorders refer to mood disorders, mood being an emotion that in the extreme affects a person’s ability to function (Varcarolis, 1994). Psychiatric diagnoses included in this subgroup are depression, dysthymia (a mild to moderate depression that is present for years), and bipolar disorder all of which are common in youthful offenders. Depression is one of the most treatable mental health disorders yet suicide, a known outcome of depression, is the third leading cause of death in adolescents in the U.S. Three adolescents in the custody of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections committed suicide in 2002-2003 by hanging themselves (Crawford, 2003). Recent reports indicate an increased incidence of depression in detained females (Baerger, et al, 2001; Teplin, et al, 2002) suggesting that an undiagnosed mental health disorder is associated with delinquent behavior. Substantial evidence exists that adolescents with a history of maltreatment or who have high intellectual ability manifest higher levels of depression (Finzi, Ram, Shrit, Har-Even, Tyano, & Weizman, 2001; Messier & Ward, 1998). These findings are similar to the results of other studies indicating increased incidences of delinquency in early maturing youth and maltreated adolescents (Caspi, et al, 1993; Graber, et al 2004; Jonson-Reid, 2002; Kaltiala-Heino, et al, 2003; Keiley, et al; 2001; Kinard, 2002, Mohr & Tulman, 2000; Molnar, et al, 2003; Preski & Shelton, 2001; Shelton, 2000).
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HOPING FOR A BETTER LIFE: A MENTAL HEALTH PROCESS
VOICED BY YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS
By
Carol Elizabeth Bonham
VOICED BY YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS
By
Carol Elizabeth Bonham
