Abstract

FERNANDES, Luan Flávia Barufi et al. Aversive events and depression in adolescence: a case review. Rev. bras.ter. cogn. [online]. 2008, vol.4, n.1, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1808-5687.

Adolescence is an important period during which the individual develops major concepts about himself and others, as well as skills to construct and maintain relationships. Stressful events during adolescence, like the death of parents and sudden routine changes, when associated with poor familiar and social support, may increase the risk for stress and depression. This is a case report of a 13 year old adolescent who was exposed to stressful experiences. It describes how those events may have contributed to the development of depressive symptoms. Twenty sessions of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) were prescribed in order to reduce depressive symptoms and stress, and to develop coping behavioral skills. Training sessions were also conducted with the uncle (caregiver) in order to improve the relationship between the adolescent and the caregiver. Data suggests that a parent’s death, routine changes and inadequate parenting management were relevant to the development of stress and depressive symptoms. Those problems were also probably responsible for the development of externalizing behaviors. After CBT there was a reduction in the frequency of externalizing behaviors and depressive symptoms. There was also an increase of positive parenting skills. It is possible to suggest that traumatic events and inefficient parental skills increase the risk for psychiatric disorders during adolescence

Keywords : Adolescence; Depression; Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT).

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