PSYC-3004-1,Psychological Disorders<br/><br/><br/><br/>Learning Resources<br/>Please

read and view (where applicable) the following Learning Resources before you complete this week’s assignments.
Readings

-Comer, R. J. (2015). Abnormal psychology (9th ed.). New York, NY: Worth.

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-Review Chapter 1, “Abnormal Psychology: Past and Present”
-Chapter 5, “Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive, and Related Disorders”
-Chapter 6, “Disorders of Trauma and Stress” (pp.177-196)
-Chapter 8, “Treatments for Depressive and Bipolar Disorders”

-Andrew, L. B. (2012). Epidemiology of depression and suicide. Retrieved fromhttp://emedicine.medscape.com/article/805459-overview#aw2aab6b4To access this article, students must fill out a free registration to the Medscape website. This article provides epidemiology statistics and age-related demographics for depression and suicide, including the FDA analysis referenced in the assignment introduction.
-Busch, S. H., &amp; Barry, C. L. (2009). Pediatric antidepressant use after the black-box warning. Health Affairs, 28(3), 724–733.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
-Bridge, J. A., Iyengar, S., Salary, C. B., Barbe, R. P., Birmaher, B., Pincus, H. A.,… Brent, D. (2007). Clinical response and risk for reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in pediatric antidepressant treatment: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of the American Medical Association, 297(15), 1683–1696.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
-Chrisman, A., Egger, H., Compton, S. N., Curry, J., &amp; Goldston, D. B. (2006). Assessment of childhood depression.Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 11(2), 111–116. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Media

-MacNeil/Lehrer Productions (Producer). (2004, May 28).Adolescent patients caught between suicide and anitidepressants (sic)[Video file]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health-jan-june04-dep_05-28/This link includes aPBS NewsHoursegment on the risk of suicide in adolescents who are taking antidepressant medications.Optional Resources

-Harvard Health Publications. (2013).Exercise and depression. Retrieved fromhttp://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Exercise-and-Depression-report-excerpt.htmThis Harvard Health Publications link details some recent research about a specific behavioral intervention for combating depression—exercise. As described in the link, exercise may have direct biological effects as well as indirect cognitive effects for individuals with depression.
-National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.)Anxiety disorders. Retrieved December 2, 2013, fromhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtmlThis is the NIMH website section on anxiety disorders. It includes excellent basic information on the anxiety disorders reviewed in this course.
-National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.)Depression. Retrieved December 2, 2013, fromhttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtmlThis section of the NIMH website parallels the section on anxiety disorders listed above. Again, it contains excellent and up-to-date basic information about the disorder, this time covering depression.
-No forgetting:Veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder[Video file]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health-jan-june04-ptsd_01-15/This is a link to aPBS NewsHoursegment on PTSD regarding soldiers returning from Iraq.With these Learning Resources in mind, please proceed to the Discussion.
Application: Suicide Risks in the Use of Antidepressants With Children and Adolescents
Like adults, children and adolescents can experience major depressive disorder or unipolar depression. Though specific symptoms might vary in children and adolescents versus adults, there is no doubt about the debilitating nature of this mood disorder for children and adolescents. In recent years, there has been ongoing and, at times, acrimonious debate about the use of antidepressant medications in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. Much of this debate surrounds the issue of an increased risk in suicidal ideation and behavior in children and adolescents taking antidepressant medications. While it was noted in an FDA study in 2004 that this increase is small, the FDA took action and issued a ‘black-box’ warning, noting that this risk could occur in children and adolescents taking antidepressant medications.
In this week’s Application Assignment, after educating yourself further on this topic, you will examine this issue more closely and provide your informed reactions.
To prepare for this assignment:

-Review the textbook’s coverage of unipolar depression in Chapter 8.
-Review the articles, “Assessment of Childhood Depression” and “Pediatric Antidepressant Use After the Black-Box Warning,” paying particular attention to the discussion of antidepressant use in children and adolescents, as well as associated risk factors and alternative treatment methods.
-Review the abstract of the article from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that includes a meta-analytic review of randomized clinical trials of antidepressant use with children and adolescents.
-Access and review the article “Epidemiology of Depression and Suicide” listed in the Learning Resources, focusing on the section titled “Age-related demographics.”
-Watch the PBS NewsHour segment on the risk of suicide in adolescents who are taking antidepressant medications. The link to this video segment is included in the required Learning Resources list.The assignment: (1–2 pages)

-Based on your review of these materials, appraise the current research evidence regarding suicide risks associated with the use of antidepressant medications in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents. In your response, answer the following questions:
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-What preconceptions, if any, did you bring to this controversial issue, perhaps based on your personal experiences or the experiences of family members, friends, or other loved ones?
-Evaluate the materials related to antidepressant use in children and adolescents. What did you find surprising? What did you find disturbing? What other reactions did you have to these materials?
-What are your now more informed thoughts about this controversial issue? Should these medications continue to be used with depressed children and adolescents? Why or why not? What alternative treatments might you consider? Explain and justify your stance on this issue. Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.

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