ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Minerva Pediatrica 2017 April;69(2):87-94

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4946.16.04228-6

Copyright © 2014 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Adolescence: psychopathological discomfort, distress or psychiatric disorder? Clinical experience, description and analysis of a sample

Domenico BOVE ¹, Rocco M. BOVE ^{1, 2}, Stefano CACCAVALE ¹, Carmela BRAVACCIO ³, Maddalena LA MONTAGNA ⁴ ✉

¹ Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; ² Fusis Association for Research in Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Alvignano, Caserta, Italy; ³ Department of Pediatrics, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy; ⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to highlight how many psychopathological disorders emerging during adolescence are not easily detectable and interpretable.
METHODS: We investigated the social, emotional and demographic factors related to psychopathological distress, measuring the overall functioning of the child/adolescent and the consequent impact on academic and social functioning, along with its implications on the emergence of feelings of discomfort and anxiety.
RESULTS: Many psychopathological disorders are easily detectable and diagnosable in this particular stage of life, and although they are rooted in adolescent distress, they can generate real psychiatric disorders.
CONCLUSIONS: The data emerging from clinical practice stress the need for a comprehensive in order to identify possible subclinical symptoms for onset of mental illness, so as to be able to implement more targeted and less invasive therapeutic strategies.

KEY WORDS: Adolescent - Mental disorders - Anxiety disorders