Paediatric Adolescent Health

Question 1

How do adolescents differ?

Answer 1

social development
emotional development
mental health
brain changes

Question 2

What age is adolescence?

Answer 2

11 - 25 years

Question 3

What changes occur in adolescence?

Answer 3

Social
Emotional
Physical (brain)

Question 4

Social development in adolescence

Answer 4

Establishing independence
- focus from parents to peers
- increasing responsibility
- less acceptance of authority figures / advice
Developing self identity
- desire for social acceptance
- identity exploration / role confusion
- eventually integrate different possibilities into single self concept
Start to develop and explore a sexual identity
Characterised by various transitions and changes in social circumstances

Question 5

Emotional development in adolescence

Answer 5

Growing ability to regulate emotions
- early adolescence; seemingly spontaneous outburst
- greater reliance on amyglada
Emotional outbursts can be triggered by barriers to development
Increase in connections between amygdala and other brain areas during adolescence
- experience new and more complex emotions
- ability to control emotional reactions and behaviour

Question 6

Mental health in adolescents

Answer 6

10 - 20 % of adolescents experience mental health disorders

Most develop late childhood - early adolescence

Question 7

Where is the area of most radical change of the brain?

Answer 7

Prefrontal cortex

• responsible for high level of cognitive function
• characteristic of adult behaviours / abilities

Question 8

What to ask about in a consultation to adolescents ( HEADSS)

Answer 8

Home
Education (or employment) 
Activities 
Drugs/alcohol 
Sexuality 
Suicide/self harm

Question 9

When does transition start?

Answer 9

11-12 years