Adolescents: overcontrolled or undercontrolled ?

ADOLESCENTS : OVERCONTROLLED OR UNDERCONTROLLED?

As parents pour in the psychiatry OPD with their problematic adolescent children, it puts us to ponder on the fact why the child's emotion or behaviour become problematic for parents and others if at all...........

There are 2 broad categories of issues faced in adolescents: INTERNALISING DISORDERS AND EXTERNALISING DISORDERS. 

Whereas internalizing problem behavior is focused on the own self (e.g., withdrawal, anxiety, depression, emotional problems), externalizing problem behavior occurs in interaction with the social environment (e.g., aggression, impulsivity, deviance, hyperactivity). Internalising disorders are common in children of OVERCONTROLLING PARENTS while externalising ones are commonly seen in children of UNDERCONTROLLED PARENTS. These are established risk factors for many unpleasant outcomes and psychopathology in adulthood.

Understanding them is important as they are in association with numerous unfavorable development outcomes, including poor academic performance, antisocial behavior, delinquency, peer problems and poor mental health like early onset anxiety and depressive disorders. 

These are important to be known to parents to better understand their child's behaviour and take some remedial steps to correct the emotion or behaviour of their child. The role of medicines is still controversial but risk-benefit ratio decides the course of the illness. Parent training is another aspect of utmost importance while dealing with these adolescents. 

Consider psychiatric consult if you find your adolescent being problematic on EMOTIONAL or BEHAVIOURAL front !!!!