Depression in teenagers can be devastating, and it's more common than you think. Recommended options for treatment include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, other forms of counseling, and anti-depressant medications. Some teens are quite reluctant to see a therapist, however, and medication isn't always enough.
A study was recently published in the British Medical Journal which evaluates the effectiveness of a video game ("Sparx") that teaches skills usually learned during cognitive behavioral therapy. These results are very interesting, as they demonstrate the video game was even more effective than therapy in alleviating symptoms of depression.
This is new, and not yet available to the general public. But it's exciting to think that we may soon have more options available to help depressed teenagers!
http://www.sparx.org.nz/
Showing posts with label teen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teen. Show all posts
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
HPV Vaccination: Prevent Cancer!
Yes, it’s time to talk about another vaccine. I guess I really love this topic, or perhaps it’s just that I think it’s really important. The one I’m referring to this time is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccine. The purpose of this vaccine is to prevent genital (including cervical) and anal cancers, and genital warts. I recommend this vaccine for all middle school students. My oldest child started the series at age 12 and was fully vaccinated at 13.
One commonly recognized brand of this vaccine is Gardisil, which prevents four types of HPV: HPV 6 and 11, which cause genital warts, and HPV 16 and 18, which cause anal and genital cancer and precancer. A more newly released vaccine is Cervarix. It covers HPV 16 and 18. Neither vaccine covers all forms of cancer-causing HPV, but HPV 16 and 18 cause approximately 2/3 of cervical cancers.
Have you heard of Human Papilloma Virus? Did you know that the lifetime risk of becoming infected with this virus is 80%? Are you aware that approximately 20 million people in the USA are infected with the virus? And 18% of 14 to 19 year-old girls are infected? Did you know the virus causes cervical cancer, anorectal cancer, and genital warts? Yuck, right? It’s a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that causes cancer and is PREVENTABLE.
The vaccine was introduced to the general public in 2006. By 2009 44.3% of adolescent girls in the United States had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine, and 26.7% had received all three recommended doses. In Australia, during the first year of a national HPV vaccination program, 75 to 80% of targeted girls had received all three doses! The vaccine is now recommended for girls AND boys, ages 9 to 26.
The vaccine has a good track record when it comes to side effects. Adverse effects shown to be caused by the vaccine are headaches, low-grade fevers, and a sore arm. Adolescents have been known to faint after receiving the vaccine. This reaction can be seen after any vaccine given to an adolescent, and is not limited to the HPV vaccine. Claims of more serious adverse effects have not been substantiated or shown scientifically to be more common in vaccine recipients than in the general public. You can find complaints about the vaccine on the internet, of course, but much of this is hearsay or linked to attempts at legal action.
Why is the vaccination rate so low? The vaccine prevents CANCER! What I hear from my patients’ parents are comments such as these: “We’re not going to give THAT vaccine.” “It’s too new.” “My daughter doesn’t need it because she isn’t going to have sex before marriage.” “If we give the vaccine then my child will think it’s ok to have sex.” “It hasn’t been around long enough for me to feel comfortable.” “I don’t know how long the immunity will last, so I want to wait until my child is older.”
I would like to respond to these comments.
1. First of all, scientific studies have shown that a fairly high percentage of kids ages 14 to 19 are already infected with the HPV virus (18% of girls in one study), so it is quite possible your child could be exposed to the virus during his or her teen years. Waiting until they are older could mean they become infected with the virus before they receive the vaccine. And you don’t have to have sexual intercourse to become infected. HPV can be transmitted via oral sex (among other ways) too! Also, there is evidence that there is more long-lasting immunity when the vaccine is given at a younger age.
2. Studies that have examined the rate of sexual activity among teenagers have shown that providing information about STD and pregnancy prevention, and even handing out condoms, has not led to an increased number of teenagers having sex. To me, therefore, it seems unlikely that giving the HPV vaccine will cause teenagers to become promiscuous.
3. Millions of doses of HPV vaccine have been administered to date, with proven safety. The vaccine is not new; it has been given to the general public since 2006.
4. Perhaps your child will wait to become sexually active until they are married. After all, you waited, right? But you don’t get to control the sexual activity of your child’s potential spouse. HPV infection (except in the case of genital warts) is not visible to the naked eye, and there is no test that can tell you if someone is infected with it.
5. I don’t want to offend anyone, here. But you should know that it is fairly common for me to see teenagers in my office who are having sex, and I don’t think most of their parents know they are sexually active. Don’t be naive. A 2002 study showed that by ages 15, 16, and 17 30-50% of teenagers were already having sexual intercourse! Talk about relationships, values and expectations with your child. But protect their health. I, too, don’t want my daughters (and I would say sons, if I had a son!) to become sexually active at such a tender age—but I will take a practical approach when it comes to preventing such a serious disease as cancer.
One commonly recognized brand of this vaccine is Gardisil, which prevents four types of HPV: HPV 6 and 11, which cause genital warts, and HPV 16 and 18, which cause anal and genital cancer and precancer. A more newly released vaccine is Cervarix. It covers HPV 16 and 18. Neither vaccine covers all forms of cancer-causing HPV, but HPV 16 and 18 cause approximately 2/3 of cervical cancers.
Have you heard of Human Papilloma Virus? Did you know that the lifetime risk of becoming infected with this virus is 80%? Are you aware that approximately 20 million people in the USA are infected with the virus? And 18% of 14 to 19 year-old girls are infected? Did you know the virus causes cervical cancer, anorectal cancer, and genital warts? Yuck, right? It’s a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that causes cancer and is PREVENTABLE.
The vaccine was introduced to the general public in 2006. By 2009 44.3% of adolescent girls in the United States had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine, and 26.7% had received all three recommended doses. In Australia, during the first year of a national HPV vaccination program, 75 to 80% of targeted girls had received all three doses! The vaccine is now recommended for girls AND boys, ages 9 to 26.
The vaccine has a good track record when it comes to side effects. Adverse effects shown to be caused by the vaccine are headaches, low-grade fevers, and a sore arm. Adolescents have been known to faint after receiving the vaccine. This reaction can be seen after any vaccine given to an adolescent, and is not limited to the HPV vaccine. Claims of more serious adverse effects have not been substantiated or shown scientifically to be more common in vaccine recipients than in the general public. You can find complaints about the vaccine on the internet, of course, but much of this is hearsay or linked to attempts at legal action.
Why is the vaccination rate so low? The vaccine prevents CANCER! What I hear from my patients’ parents are comments such as these: “We’re not going to give THAT vaccine.” “It’s too new.” “My daughter doesn’t need it because she isn’t going to have sex before marriage.” “If we give the vaccine then my child will think it’s ok to have sex.” “It hasn’t been around long enough for me to feel comfortable.” “I don’t know how long the immunity will last, so I want to wait until my child is older.”
I would like to respond to these comments.
1. First of all, scientific studies have shown that a fairly high percentage of kids ages 14 to 19 are already infected with the HPV virus (18% of girls in one study), so it is quite possible your child could be exposed to the virus during his or her teen years. Waiting until they are older could mean they become infected with the virus before they receive the vaccine. And you don’t have to have sexual intercourse to become infected. HPV can be transmitted via oral sex (among other ways) too! Also, there is evidence that there is more long-lasting immunity when the vaccine is given at a younger age.
2. Studies that have examined the rate of sexual activity among teenagers have shown that providing information about STD and pregnancy prevention, and even handing out condoms, has not led to an increased number of teenagers having sex. To me, therefore, it seems unlikely that giving the HPV vaccine will cause teenagers to become promiscuous.
3. Millions of doses of HPV vaccine have been administered to date, with proven safety. The vaccine is not new; it has been given to the general public since 2006.
4. Perhaps your child will wait to become sexually active until they are married. After all, you waited, right? But you don’t get to control the sexual activity of your child’s potential spouse. HPV infection (except in the case of genital warts) is not visible to the naked eye, and there is no test that can tell you if someone is infected with it.
5. I don’t want to offend anyone, here. But you should know that it is fairly common for me to see teenagers in my office who are having sex, and I don’t think most of their parents know they are sexually active. Don’t be naive. A 2002 study showed that by ages 15, 16, and 17 30-50% of teenagers were already having sexual intercourse! Talk about relationships, values and expectations with your child. But protect their health. I, too, don’t want my daughters (and I would say sons, if I had a son!) to become sexually active at such a tender age—but I will take a practical approach when it comes to preventing such a serious disease as cancer.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Fatigue, Teens, and Tweens
I see many tired teenagers in the office every day. They take naps after school, can hardly get out of bed in the morning, sometimes sleep half the day on weekends, and generally are low on energy. They always seem low on energy when it is time to get up to go to school, do homework, or do chores. They often revive in an amazing way when it is time for sports practice or competitions, or time to engage in some way with peers.
Their sleep habits are often poor--bedtime of 10:30 or later, then up at 6:30 on school days (teenagers should be getting about 10 hours of sleep at night, averaged over the week, without counting naps). Their phones, computers, TVs are in their rooms to distract them as they try to fall asleep. They often skip breakfast, or have a high sugar treat on the way out the door. Lunch is fast food, or the equivalent in high fat and low nutritional content. Or they don't eat lunch. Fluids can be minimal throughout the day. Some teens barely exercise. Most spend lots of time in front of a screen (TV, computer, games, phones).
Then there is the stress of being a teenager--six or seven teachers making demands, tests, homework, sports, clubs, applying to college (fatigue is VERY common for seniors in high school!), lack of spending money, or the added pressure of a job, relationships with family and friends, a boyfriend or girlfriend, fitting in socially...Actually listing this makes ME feel a little tired and stressed. Wouldn't YOU want a nap after school, too?
There are many causes of fatigue, both physical and emotional. Of course there are important medical causes of fatigue, and mental illness (such as depression) can lead to fatigue. However, fatigue is a common symptom, and MOST OF THE TIME it reflects common, ongoing, physical and emotional stress in a teen or tween's life.
My medical training leads me to think of the most likely things first. There is a kind of medical school joke about zebras and horses. You need the background information that in the United States of America you would be more likely to see horses than you would zebras. In fact, you would probably have to go to a zoo to see zebras, while you could just drive out to the country to see some horses.
So, in south west Michigan, if an animal looked and smelled like a horse, was the same general size as a horse, walked and sounded like a horse--but you just couldn't see its hide to tell if it was striped or plain--would it be more likely a horse or a zebra? The right answer here, of course, is that a HORSE would be more likely than a zebra. It would not be impossible to see a zebra (I guess a farmer could have one as a pet, or one could have escaped from a zoo), but out in the country in south west Michigan you are probably looking at horses.
That means, that when I am assessing someone for the cause of their fatigue, I keep the possibility of zebras (or less common illnesses) in mind, but I do NOT usually end up seeing stripes. I am going to ask general questions about the patient's life, and these answers will factor in an important way into what I think is causing my patient's fatigue. I might ask any or all of the following questions, or even think of other questions that are centered around lifestyle, home, and school:
1. How is school going? Grades, attendance, completing assignments, behavioral concerns at school...new challenges, perfectionism, getting behind in school?
2. How are you getting along with your family? Who do you get along with best? worst?
3. How are things at home?
4. Anything changed at home? Divorce, separation, illness, pets, job loss, troubled sibling...
5. How are things with friends?
6. Dating? How is that going? How long? Physically involved with this person?
7. Are you in trouble with anyone? Suspended? Grounded? Have a probation officer?
8. Substance use/abuse? Tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs...
9. What is your daily schedule like?
10. When do you have free time? What do you do with it?
11. What are your eating patterns like? Do you eat three meals? Drink enough water? Take a vitamin?
12. Are you happy with your weight? Dieting? Losing or gaining weight?
13. When and how much do you exercise?
14. Are most teenagers happier than you?
15. Are most teenagers having more fun than you?
16. Do most teenagers have more friends than you?
17. Are most teenagers more popular than you?
18. Are most teenagers thinner than you?
I think this list could be endless. Hopefully you see my point, that any number of these factors could be important considerations in figuring out why your child is tired all the time.
Of course there are the so-called "red flags" when it comes to fatigue. Here I am thinking about signs of depression, deliberate self-harm ("cutting"), thoughts of suicide, a suicide plan. I am also looking for excessive, paralyzing anxiety or panic.
And finally, last on my list, still important but much less likely, the reason most parents bring their fatigued teen or tween to see me, PHYSICAL ILLNESS as a cause of fatigue. Here is where I see parents worry. They believe their teenager has hypoglycemia, or diabetes, or a thyroid condition, or anemia. Now I am asking about weight loss, blood in stools, diarrhea, urinary frequency, excessive thirst, excessively heavy periods, palpitations, dry skin, constipation, night sweats, absent or fewer periods, joint swelling or pain, and other physical symptoms. I always ask about headaches and stomachaches as well, but many people have these symptoms so it doesn't usually help me narrow things down.
Follow all of the above by a physical exam, and sometimes blood work (often just general screening for anemia, hypothyroidism, and a general metabolic panel that includes a blood sugar level), and I am usually left with a physically normal appearing teenager who has normal blood tests. Parents are relieved. BUT THE TEENAGER IS STILL TIRED!
In my respectful, and humble opinion, the blood tests have contributed very little to the evaluation of the fatigued teen/tween. The physical/medical disorders that could have led to abnormal blood tests just aren't that common in comparison to the psychological, lifestyle, and mental health issues that can lead to fatigue. And while it may relieve YOU, as the parent, to know the blood tests are normal, it didn't help your teen overcome his fatigue!
I am not advocating skipping the medical work up for a fatigued teenager. What I want is for parents and teens to take a close look at their lifestyle, diet, sleep habits, stress, and mental health, and to consider these issues as a possible important cause of fatigue. MOST OF THE TIME these issues will be THE cause of the fatigue, so I don't think we can ignore them.
I don't want to miss an important physical cause of fatigue any more than you do, but I do want to help your child feel better. That will probably take us looking at the whole picture, not just ordering a blood draw. And it may involve a solution that is not as easy as taking a pill. It could include changes in lifestyle, diet, nutrition, sleep habits, exercise. Or a recommendation may be made for counseling or family therapy.
You might also be able to tell from this blog that an evaluation for fatigue deserves its own appointment in my office. This is not a work up I can easily add on to the end of a visit for a cough, strep throat, or wart, or piggy-back on to a sibling's appointment. We need to give this symptom the time and attention it demands. After reviewing the information above, however, you may have more insight into the problem and have some ideas for helping your teen. It's usually ok to try some things before making the appointment.
As I always say, this blog is intended to provide general information for situations that are not specific to any patient or family. My blog is not meant to be medically comprehensive and cannot take every situation or symptom into consideration. Every one deserves to have their concerns personally addressed by their own doctor, and the information in my blog is not a substitute for that kind of attention.
Their sleep habits are often poor--bedtime of 10:30 or later, then up at 6:30 on school days (teenagers should be getting about 10 hours of sleep at night, averaged over the week, without counting naps). Their phones, computers, TVs are in their rooms to distract them as they try to fall asleep. They often skip breakfast, or have a high sugar treat on the way out the door. Lunch is fast food, or the equivalent in high fat and low nutritional content. Or they don't eat lunch. Fluids can be minimal throughout the day. Some teens barely exercise. Most spend lots of time in front of a screen (TV, computer, games, phones).
Then there is the stress of being a teenager--six or seven teachers making demands, tests, homework, sports, clubs, applying to college (fatigue is VERY common for seniors in high school!), lack of spending money, or the added pressure of a job, relationships with family and friends, a boyfriend or girlfriend, fitting in socially...Actually listing this makes ME feel a little tired and stressed. Wouldn't YOU want a nap after school, too?
There are many causes of fatigue, both physical and emotional. Of course there are important medical causes of fatigue, and mental illness (such as depression) can lead to fatigue. However, fatigue is a common symptom, and MOST OF THE TIME it reflects common, ongoing, physical and emotional stress in a teen or tween's life.
My medical training leads me to think of the most likely things first. There is a kind of medical school joke about zebras and horses. You need the background information that in the United States of America you would be more likely to see horses than you would zebras. In fact, you would probably have to go to a zoo to see zebras, while you could just drive out to the country to see some horses.
So, in south west Michigan, if an animal looked and smelled like a horse, was the same general size as a horse, walked and sounded like a horse--but you just couldn't see its hide to tell if it was striped or plain--would it be more likely a horse or a zebra? The right answer here, of course, is that a HORSE would be more likely than a zebra. It would not be impossible to see a zebra (I guess a farmer could have one as a pet, or one could have escaped from a zoo), but out in the country in south west Michigan you are probably looking at horses.
That means, that when I am assessing someone for the cause of their fatigue, I keep the possibility of zebras (or less common illnesses) in mind, but I do NOT usually end up seeing stripes. I am going to ask general questions about the patient's life, and these answers will factor in an important way into what I think is causing my patient's fatigue. I might ask any or all of the following questions, or even think of other questions that are centered around lifestyle, home, and school:
1. How is school going? Grades, attendance, completing assignments, behavioral concerns at school...new challenges, perfectionism, getting behind in school?
2. How are you getting along with your family? Who do you get along with best? worst?
3. How are things at home?
4. Anything changed at home? Divorce, separation, illness, pets, job loss, troubled sibling...
5. How are things with friends?
6. Dating? How is that going? How long? Physically involved with this person?
7. Are you in trouble with anyone? Suspended? Grounded? Have a probation officer?
8. Substance use/abuse? Tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs...
9. What is your daily schedule like?
10. When do you have free time? What do you do with it?
11. What are your eating patterns like? Do you eat three meals? Drink enough water? Take a vitamin?
12. Are you happy with your weight? Dieting? Losing or gaining weight?
13. When and how much do you exercise?
14. Are most teenagers happier than you?
15. Are most teenagers having more fun than you?
16. Do most teenagers have more friends than you?
17. Are most teenagers more popular than you?
18. Are most teenagers thinner than you?
I think this list could be endless. Hopefully you see my point, that any number of these factors could be important considerations in figuring out why your child is tired all the time.
Of course there are the so-called "red flags" when it comes to fatigue. Here I am thinking about signs of depression, deliberate self-harm ("cutting"), thoughts of suicide, a suicide plan. I am also looking for excessive, paralyzing anxiety or panic.
And finally, last on my list, still important but much less likely, the reason most parents bring their fatigued teen or tween to see me, PHYSICAL ILLNESS as a cause of fatigue. Here is where I see parents worry. They believe their teenager has hypoglycemia, or diabetes, or a thyroid condition, or anemia. Now I am asking about weight loss, blood in stools, diarrhea, urinary frequency, excessive thirst, excessively heavy periods, palpitations, dry skin, constipation, night sweats, absent or fewer periods, joint swelling or pain, and other physical symptoms. I always ask about headaches and stomachaches as well, but many people have these symptoms so it doesn't usually help me narrow things down.
Follow all of the above by a physical exam, and sometimes blood work (often just general screening for anemia, hypothyroidism, and a general metabolic panel that includes a blood sugar level), and I am usually left with a physically normal appearing teenager who has normal blood tests. Parents are relieved. BUT THE TEENAGER IS STILL TIRED!
In my respectful, and humble opinion, the blood tests have contributed very little to the evaluation of the fatigued teen/tween. The physical/medical disorders that could have led to abnormal blood tests just aren't that common in comparison to the psychological, lifestyle, and mental health issues that can lead to fatigue. And while it may relieve YOU, as the parent, to know the blood tests are normal, it didn't help your teen overcome his fatigue!
I am not advocating skipping the medical work up for a fatigued teenager. What I want is for parents and teens to take a close look at their lifestyle, diet, sleep habits, stress, and mental health, and to consider these issues as a possible important cause of fatigue. MOST OF THE TIME these issues will be THE cause of the fatigue, so I don't think we can ignore them.
I don't want to miss an important physical cause of fatigue any more than you do, but I do want to help your child feel better. That will probably take us looking at the whole picture, not just ordering a blood draw. And it may involve a solution that is not as easy as taking a pill. It could include changes in lifestyle, diet, nutrition, sleep habits, exercise. Or a recommendation may be made for counseling or family therapy.
You might also be able to tell from this blog that an evaluation for fatigue deserves its own appointment in my office. This is not a work up I can easily add on to the end of a visit for a cough, strep throat, or wart, or piggy-back on to a sibling's appointment. We need to give this symptom the time and attention it demands. After reviewing the information above, however, you may have more insight into the problem and have some ideas for helping your teen. It's usually ok to try some things before making the appointment.
As I always say, this blog is intended to provide general information for situations that are not specific to any patient or family. My blog is not meant to be medically comprehensive and cannot take every situation or symptom into consideration. Every one deserves to have their concerns personally addressed by their own doctor, and the information in my blog is not a substitute for that kind of attention.
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