Adolescent psychiatry treats young people between the ages of about 13 and 21. The most common reasons for adolescents’ need for psychiatric treatment include depression, anxiety, severe self-destructiveness, severe eating disorders and delusions. Puberty has a significant impact on the occurrence of various symptoms and mental health issues in adolescents. The symptoms may grow more frequent or stronger.
Adolescent psychiatry focuses on studying and interviewing the young person’s surroundings and immediate circle, such as their family and school. Schools often engage in close cooperation with the psychiatric treatment of adolescents as that is usually the first place where early problems start to arise. Child welfare may also be involved in the treatment, if necessary. Compared to the treatment of children, young people can be treated more as individuals and parents play a smaller role in the treatment.
The treatment consists of a combination of various forms of treatment used according to the adolescent’s and family’s needs. Various forms of treatment may have various impacts depending on the person, which is why the treatment is planned individually after the initial assessment. Different forms of treatment include psychotherapy, group activities and medication. Adolescent psychotherapy often utilises alternative methods to one-on-one discussion, such as occupational therapy or music therapy. Group therapy can also be used, but the need for individual therapy is usually elevated in young people. Medication can be used according to the therapist’s discretion to support the treatment and is usually chosen as an option if no other treatment yields the desired result. Medication must be used responsibly, always discussing its necessity and actively monitoring the effect of the treatment.
