Resumen de Adolescent depression
Emma Noval Aldaco, María Ruiz Torres, José López Gil, Beatriz Payá González
Mood disorders are one of the most commonly experienced mental disorders during childhood and adolescence. Before adolescence, depression rates are similar in boys and girls, but from puberty, the incidence of depression in women increases in a ratio of 2:1 compared with men, a tendency that remains during adulthood. Some authors speculate that this phenomenon originates from the hormonal changes that occur at this stage of development and their effects on neurobiological level. Currently, a multifactorial etiological model in which several risk factors interact and enhance reciprocally is already accepted. Considering that adolescence is a key period in the acquisition of autonomy and the formation of personal identity, sociocultural pressure becomes particularly important. In this sense, the familiar and social context, which is closer to the adolescent, is crucial for the transmission of cultural values and stereotypes. In this chapter, differences between male and female subjects in diverse aspects of the clinical manifestations of depressive disorders, as well as biological, cognitive, and social factors that attempt to explain gender differences in adolescent depression, are reviewed. Finally, it is necessary to take into account that the role and gender stereotypes internalized by patients and health professionals can influence both the way in which depressive disorders manifest and the clinical attention provided.
