Mood disorder is common among adolescents: HMC expert

DOHA: Mood disorder is the most common mental health problem diagnosed among adolescents in the country, said Dr Saleem Khaldan Al Nuaimi, Consultant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). 

At least 40 percent of cases at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic are cared for mood disorder. The clinic sees patients of maximum age of 18 years and receives around 15 to 25 referrals in a week from the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and schools, he said, speaking to media persons yesterday.

In mood disorder the general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent with circumstances and interferes with the person’s ability to function. “Anxiety, depression, self harming behaviour are the other common mental health disorders we see among the adolescents. Neurodevelopmental Disorders, specifically Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are the most common problems seen among children under age of 12 years,” said Dr Al Nuaimi.

“Mental health problems are more common among women than men due to biological, hormonal, genetic and social reasons,” he added. 

Referring to the prevalence of depression, Dr Al Nuaimi said that adjustment disorder is commonly misdiagnosed as depression among adolescents. 

“The rates of depression among young adults and adolescents are extremely high. In reality the more appropriate diagnosis is adjustment disorder, where youth struggle to adjust life due to stress. I have treated many patients diagnosed as having depression but vast majority didn’t were actually depressed,” he said.

Adjustment disorder is a short-term condition that occurs when a person has great difficulty coping with, or adjusting to, a particular source of stress, such as a major life change, loss or event.

“Depression is a medical psychiatry diagnosis, it means you are medically ill. It doesn’t mean that you just having a rough time. Most adolescents struggle to cope with irregular emotions,” he added.

Dr Al Nuaimi sited the sample of bullying and said a child might present very clear symptoms of depression if get bullied at school. But, he said, they are not clinically depressed.  

“Such children will recover if the bullying is stopped. Depression will not get better when the destruction is gone. Because the person is medically ill and need proper interventions and treatment,” he said.

“An active lifestyle, proper diet, staying away from smoking and alcohol, building good family and social relationships can help youth to build resilience against mental health disorders,” said Dr  Al Nuaimi.