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Latest Updates: Teenage Problems RSS

  • Jeff Brain 7:27 pm on July 26, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , Teenage Problems,

    Eating Disorder in Teens
    A colleague from a well respected Residential Treatment Center forwarded me this wonderful article written by Dr. Kim Dennis (New-Food-Fight). She is a psychiatrist who writes about her personal experience with an eating disorder. In sharing her experience, strength and hope, both as a member of the medical community and the recovery community, she is inviting to help and support others on their journal to recovery.

     To me, it is especially meaningful and helpful when treatment professionals can draw from their own personal experience. We value this at the The Family Foundation School, the therapeutic boarding school where I work, since it helps the staff relate to the struggles of the students have AND it helps the students relate to the staff (they really understand me – they know what I am going through). So often, treatment is provided by well intentioned and well trained individuals but who lack personal recovery experience. It is refreshing when people like Dr. Dennis share their own experience, along side their professional training.

     “A Doctor, A Director and a Friend of ED” is a great article to share with those who are in treatment for eating disorders. KIMBERLY DENNIS, MD, is the medical director at Timberline Knolls (www.timberlineknolls.com). Located in Lemont, Ill., Timberline Knolls is an innovative residential treatment center designed exclusively for women and adolescent girls with emotional disorders, including eating disorders, addiction and self-injury behavior. Dr. Dennis is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

     

  • Jeff Brain 7:26 pm on July 26, 2009 | 2 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: ADHD, , Sleep, , Teenage Problems

    Struggling Teens, ADHD and Sleep
    The August 2009 issue of Clinician’s Research Digest reports on an interesting study that appeared in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology (34,328-337) by researchers Mayes, Calhoun, BIxler, Vgontzas, , Mahr, et al. The purpose of the study was to evaluate differences in the frequency and types of sleep problems in children with ADHD and co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression and oppositional defiant disorder. The study reinforced the importance of attending to children’s sleep patterns, particularly in children with a diagnosis of ADHD-combined or ADHD-inattentive, anxiety or depression. There may be a tendency to focus on treating behavioral issues or changing maladaptive cognitions; however it may be equally important to simultaneously address sleep problems. Treatment may need to include the development of good sleep hygiene including strategies to assist with relaxation prior to going to bed and falling back to sleep after awakening in the night.
    Although on some level the results are common sense, but those who work with teens diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder or other emotional disorders know that adherence to bed time routine presents real challenges, often resulting in reduced sleep and disrupted sleep routines. At the therapeutic boarding school I work at, all students follow a regular routine of scheduled bed time, preceded by activities that promote relaxation and meditation. Additionally, creating an environment that is conducive for sleep in congregate living arrangements can be challenging, but is important to ensure that everyone sleeping in proximity with one another is in fact, preparing to fall sleep. We have found that helping teens get a good night’s sleep is an important part of the overall therapeutic process.

     

  • Jeff Brain 7:24 pm on July 26, 2009 | 0 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: Relapse, Struggling Teen, Teen Marijuana Abstinence, Teenage Problems

    Adolescent Views about Abstinence and Relapse with Marijuana Use
    The August 2009 issue of Clinician’s Research Digest reports on an interesting study that appeared in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2009, 77, 554-565) by researchers King, Chung & Maisto. Up to 2/3 of adolescents return to regular marijuana use 3-6 months after treatment. Booster sessions after treatment could potentially assist in relapse prevention, but the timing and content of the booster sessions have not been well researched. This study included 142 adolescents recruited from 6 addiction treatment facilities. During outpatient treatment that lasted for 6-8 weeks, adolescents marijuana use gradually declined but an increase began to occur at months 5 and 6. They found that motivation to abstain from marijuana declined over time and became predictive of the trajectory of marijuana use. The findings from this study highlight how recovery from substance abuse is a “dynamic process of change over time”. Additionally, “targeting abstinence-related cognitions and increasing self-efficacy related to abstinence compliance during and after treatment can significantly impact current use of marijuana and future relapse in marijuana use among adolescents” Booster sessions beginning at 3 months after treatment may be useful.
    I found this article interesting for a number of reasons:
    • It reinforces the dynamic nature of both the etiology and recovery from marijuana use
    • It reinforces the need to address abstinence related cognitions, which we find to be a central component of 12-step programs
    • It recommends booster sessions beginning 3 months after treatment. This was the most surprising conclusion as it does not define what constitutes booster session but more importantly, does not recommend a more frequent schedule. My experience is that adolescents especially need to be practicing, rehearsing and reinforcing their recovery efforts frequently. Waiting for 3 months risks waiting too long.
    • Finally, the study reported that a 33% of the adolescents were diagnosed with ADHD and conduct disorder. 80% were diagnosed with marijuana abuse and 50% also meeting criteria for alcohol abuse. These concurrent diagnoses make interpreting the finding more challenging. Certainly teens with ADHD and conduct disorder will necessarily have a harder time with treatment compliance than non-affected youth. Those with concurrent alcohol use are further involved in illegal and influential drug use. The statistics also allow that some students could have all four diagnoses (which we see with regularity at our therapeutic boarding school). These young people require longer term treatment and very carefully planned aftercare.