[Depression and African American Adolescent Males: Differences in Symptoms and Suicidal Behaviors]

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Depression” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Depression” and its relation with “African American Adolescent Males”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Depression” and tries to gauge its effect on “African American Adolescent Males”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Depression” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Depression” on “African American Adolescent Males”

TABLE OF CONTENT

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION6

A. OVERVIEW OF PREVALENCE, SYMPTOMS, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPRESSION7

1.Unidentified and untreated depression and its consequences7

2.Reasons people do not seek treatment7

B.OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH REGARDING DEPRESSION10

1.Depression in African Americans10

2.Depression in Adolescents12

C. DEPRESSION IN AFRICAN AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES13

D. DEFINE THE SCOPE OF THIS PAPER14

1.Inclusion Criteria14

2.Exclusion Criteria14

SECTION II: ETIOLOGY OF ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION16

A.PRESENTATION OF SYMPTOMS16

B.FACTORS THAT AFFECT SYMPTOMOLOGY19

1.General risk factors that is specific to AA adolescent depression19

2.General protective factors that is specific to AA adolescent depression19

SECTION III: IMPACT OF AA MALE ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION21

A.ADOLESCENT MALE OUTCOME MEASURES21

1.Cognitive/Academic Performance22

2.Social/Peer Interactions23

3.Emotional/Behavioral24

B. DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS OF UNDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED DEPRESSION25

SECTION IV: SUICIDALITY27

A.SUICIDAL IDEATION SPECIFIC TO AFRICAN AMERICAN ADOLESCENT MALES27

B.PRESENTATION OF SUICIDAL SYMPTOMOLOGY27

SECTION V: DISCUSSION29

A. LIMITATIONS TO RESEARCH29

B. CLINICAL RELEVANCE30

C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH31

1.Treatment Options31

2.Empirical Research for African American Adolescent Males33

SECTION I: INTRODUCTION

Depression in adolescents is very often difficult to recognize because young people mask their emotions and feelings and express their depressive state in different symptoms. On the one hand, “adolescents find it difficult to admit to themselves or others self-critical attitudes or doubts about their being competent”, and on the other hand, “they are inclined more toward doing things than thinking about them, so their feelings of depression frequently get expressed in substitute symptom or behavioral equivalents of depression” (Atwater, 1988). Thus, there can be drawn a conclusion that adolescent's depression is very often masked but still there are identified the common signs and symptoms for masked depression.

The main challenge while analyzing adolescent's depression appears when we compare depression of adolescents in general and adolescent African-American males. Even though there are common symptoms, presentation, and suicidal thoughts among adolescents, there might be also some specific differences in depression of adolescent males in general and depression of adolescent African-American males. Thus, the main objectives of this research are to answer such questions:

What are adolescent depressions and its symptoms?

What are the risk and protective factors of depression and suicide?

What are the specific differences in adolescent's mental health disorders between African-American young boys and other boys?

What is the impact of ...