Narrative review on psychosocial challenges and identity issues associated with severe mental illness in adolescents

Authors

  • Yihan City University of Hong Kong, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38140/ijspsy.v2i1.626

Keywords:

Psychosocial Challenges, Identity , Adolescents, Severe mental illness

Abstract

The onset of severe mental illness (SMI) typically manifests during adolescence. Given that it is a particularly sensitive stage for adolescents from an identity development perspective, receiving a SMI diagnosis may have long-term impacts on their identity and present several psychosocial challenges. Most importantly, at this stage in life, adolescents are at a critical juncture in making plans and career paths, increasing social interaction, and completing higher school education. This review will argue that since SMI is more likely to occur during adolescence and this can have additional psychosocial challenges, which may cause several issues on one’s identity, and this effect may be carried forward across one’s lifespan. It seeks to establish the positive and negative impacts of SMI on adolescents’ psychosocial development. It is essential to comprehensively understand this impact as it has implications for recovery and for health professionals to select suitable treatment interventions.

References

Acero, A. R., Cano-Prous, A., Castellanos, G., Martín?Lanas, R., & Canga?Armayor, A. (2017). Family identity and severe mental illness: A thematic synthesis of qualitative studies. European Journal of Social Psychology, 47(5), 611-627. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2240.

Akezaki, Y., Nakata, E., Kikuuchi, M., Tominaga, R., Kurokawa, H., Hamada, M., Aogi, K., … & Sugihara, S. (2020). Risk factors for early postoperative psychological problems in breast cancer patients after axillary lymph node dissection. Breast Cancer, 27(2), 284-290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-019-01020-y.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: Author.

Bell, R. A., Franks, P., Duberstein, P. R., Epstein, R. M., Feldman, M. D., Fernandezy Garcia, E., & Kravitz, R. L. (2011). Suffering in silence: reasons for not disclosing depression in primary care. Annals of Family Medicine, 9(5), 439–446. https://doi.org/10.1370%2Fafm.1277.

Benitez, D. T., Lattimore, J., & Wehmeyer, M. L. (2005). Promoting the involvement of students with emotional and behavioral disorders in career and vocational planning and decision-making: The self-determined career development model. Behavioral Disorders, 30(4), 431-447. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F019874290503000401.

Brady, A. M., Deighton, J., & Stansfeld, S. (2020). Chronic illness in childhood and early adolescence: A longitudinal exploration of co-occurring mental illness. Development and Psychopathology, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579420000206.

Broder, H. L., Smith, F. B., & Strauss, R. P. (1994). Effects of visible and invisible orofacial defects on self-perception and adjustment across developmental eras and gender. The Cleft Palate-craniofacial Journal, 31(6), 429-436. https://doi.org/10.1597/1545-1569_1994_031_0429_eovaio_2.3.co_2.

Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (Eds.). (2014). Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research and practice. London, UK: Routledge.

Chiba, R., Funakoshi, A., Yamazaki, Y., & Miyamoto, Y. (2020). The benefit finding questionnaire (BFQ): Scale development, validation, and its psychometric properties among people with mental illness. Healthcare, 8(3), 303-315. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fhealthcare8030303.

Crocetti, E., Klimstra, T., Keijsers, L., Hale, W. W., & Meeus, W. (2009). Anxiety trajectories and identity development in adolescence: A five-wave longitudinal study. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 38(6), 839-849. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-008-9302-y.

Cruwys, T., & Gunaseelan, S. (2016). Depression is who I am: Mental illness identity, stigma, and wellbeing. Journal of Affective Disorders, 189, 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.09.012.

Cukor, D., Ver Halen, N., & Kimmel, P. L. (2020). Psychosocial issues in chronic kidney disease patients. In P. L. Kimmel & M. E. Rosenberg (Eds.). Chronic renal disease (2nd ed., pp. 413-423). London, UK: Academic Press.

Dumont, M., & Provost, M. A. (1999). Resilience in adolescents: Protective role of social support, coping strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experience of stress and depression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28(3), 343-363. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021637011732.

Dusek, J., Carter, O. B., & Levy, G. (1986). The relationship between identity development and self-esteem during the late adolescent years: Sex differences. Journal of Adolescent Research, 1(3), 251-265. https://doi.org/10.1177/074355488613001.

Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Frawley, E. M. (2016). A qualitative study of mental health experiences and college student identity (Unpublished master dissertation). Smith College School, Northampton, Massachusetts.

Galvez, J. F., Thommi, S., & Ghaemi, S. N. (2011). Positive aspects of mental illness: A review in bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 128, 185-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2010.03.017.

Harding, S, Sanipour F, & Moss, T. (2014). Existence of benefit finding and posttraumatic growth in people treated for head and neck cancer: A systematic review. Peer Journal, 2, e256. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.256.

Helgeson, V. S., Reynolds, K. A., & Tomich, P. L. (2006). A meta-analytic review of benefit finding and growth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 797-816. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.5.797.

Hendryx, M., Green, C.A., & Perrin, N. A. (2009). A randomized controlled trail of the effectiveness of the illness management and recovery program. Psychiatry Service, 58(11), 1461-1466. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2007.58.11.1461.

Hinshaw, S. P. (2005). The stigmatization of mental illness in children and parents: Developmental issues, family concerns, and research needs. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(7), 717-734. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01456.x.

Hokkanen, H., Eriksson, E., Ahonen, O., & Salantera, S. (2004). Adolescents with cancer: Experience of life and how it could be made easier. Cancer nursing, 27(4), 325-335. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002820-200407000-00010.

Houtzager, B. A., Oort, F. J., Hoekstra-Weebers, J. E., Caron, H. N., Grootenhuis, M. A., & Last, B. F. (2004). Coping and family functioning predict longitudinal psychological adaptation of siblings of childhood cancer patients. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 29(8), 591–605. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsh061.

Iseselo, M. K., Kajula, L., & Yahya-Malima, K. I. (2016). The psychosocial problems of families caring for relatives with mental illnesses and their coping strategies: a qualitative urban based study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. BMC Psychiatry, 16, 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0857-y.

Jung, E., Pick, O., Schlüter-Müller, S., Schmeck, K., & Goth, K. (2013). Identity development in adolescents with mental problems. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 7(1), 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-7-26.

Kroksmark, U., & Nordell, K. (2001). Adolescence: The age of opportunities and obstacles for students with low vision in Sweden. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 95, 213-225. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0145482X0109500403.

Lebowitz, M. S. (2016). Stigmatization of ADHD: A developmental review. Journal of Attention Disorders, 20(3), 199-205. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054712475211.

Levesque, J. V., Gerges, M., & Girgis, A. (2020). Psychosocial experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of Chinese-Australian women with breast cancer. Asia-Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing, 7(2), 141-150. https://doi.org/10.4103/apjon.apjon_53_19.

Luque-Suarez, A., Martinez-Calderon, J., Navarro-Ledesma, S., Morales-Asencio, J. M., Meeus, M., & Struyf, F. (2020). Kinesiophobia is associated with pain intensity and disability in chronic shoulder pain: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 43(8), 791-798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2019.12.009.

Luyckx, K., Klimstra, T. A., Duriez, B., Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W., Teppers, E., & Goossens, L. (2013). Personal identity processes and self-esteem: Temporal sequences in high school and college students. Journal of Research in Personality, 47(2), 159-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2012.10.005.

Madan-Swain, A., Brown, R. T., Foster, M. A., Vega, R., Byars, K., Rodenberger, W., Bell, B., & Lambert, R. (2000). Identity in adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 25(2), 105-115. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/25.2.105.

Mason, M. J., Schmidt, C., Abraham, A., Walker, L., & Tercyak, K. (2009). Adolescents’ social environment and depression: social networks, extracurricular activity, and family relationship influences. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 16(4), 346-354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9169-4.

Meijer, S. A., Sinnema, G., Bijstra, J. O., Mellenbergh, G. J., & Wolters, W. H. (2000). Social functioning in children with a chronic illness. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(3), 309-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-7610.00615.

Moncrieff, J., Cohen, D., & Porter, S. (2013). The psychoactive effects of psychiatric medication: The elephant in the room. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 45(5), 409-415. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2013.845328.

Nadeau, L., & Tessier, R. (2009). Social adjustment at school: Are children with cerebral palsy perceived more negatively by their peers than other at-risk children?. Disability and Rehabilitation, 31(4), 302-308. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280801945899.

Ottewell, N. (2018). A qualitative study of illness identity: Schizophrenia and depression. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare, 2(2), 84-93. https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2018.7420.

Paus, T., Keshavan, M., & Giedd, J. N. (2008). Why do many psychiatric disorders emerge during adolescence?. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(12), 947-957. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2513.

Pérez-Corrales, J., Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres, M., Martínez-Piedrola, R., Sánchez-Camarero, C., Parás-Bravo, P., & Palacios-Ceña, D. (2019). ‘Being normal’ and self-identity: The experience of volunteering in individuals with severe mental disorders-a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 9(3), e025363. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025363.

Pinquart, M., & Pfeiffer, J. P. (2015). Solving developmental tasks in adolescents with a chronic physical illness or physical/sensory disability: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 62(3), 249-264. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2015.1020922.

Quinn, M. M., Kavale, K. A., Mathur, S. R., Rutherford Jr, R. B., & Forness, S. R. (1999). A meta-analysis of social skill interventions for students with emotional or behavioral disorders. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 7(1), 54-64. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F106342669900700106.

Ranning, A., Laursen, T., Agerbo, E., Thorup, A., Hjorthøj, C., Jepsen, J. R. M., & Nordentoft, M. (2018). School performance from primary education in the adolescent offspring of parents with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder–a national, register-based study. Psychological Medicine, 48(12), 1993-2000. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291717003518.

Reißmann, D. R., John, M. T., Schierz, O., & Wassell, R. W. (2007). Functional and psychosocial impact related to specific temporomandibular disorder diagnoses. Journal of Dentistry, 35(8), 643-650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2007.04.010.

Rosen, J. E. (2004). Adolescent health and development (AHD): A resource guide for world bank operations staff and government counterparts. Washington, D.C.: The World Bank.

Runions, K. C., Vithiatharan, R., Hancock, K., Lin, A., Brennan-Jones, C. G., Gray, C., & Payne, D. (2020). Chronic health conditions, mental health and the school: A narrative review. Health Education Journal, 79(4), 471-483. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0017896919890898.

Schinnar, A. P., Rothbard, A. B., Kanter, R., & Jung, Y. S. (1990). An empirical literature review of definitions of severe and persistent mental illness. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 147(12), 1602-1608. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.147.12.1602.

Schlüter-Müller, S., Goth, K., Jung, E., & Schmeck, K. (2015). Assessment and treatment of identity pathology during adolescence. Scandinavian Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, 3(1), 63-70. https://doi.org/10.21307/sjcapp-2015-006.

Schreiner, K., Grossoehme, D. H., Friebert, S., Baker, J. N., Needle, J., & Lyon, M. E. (2020). Living life as if I never had cancer: A study of the meaning of living well in adolescents and young adults who have experienced cancer. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 67(10), e28599. https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.28599.

Schutz, H. K., & Paxton, S. J. (2007). Friendship quality, body dissatisfaction, dieting and disordered eating in adolescent girls. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 67-83. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466506x115993.

Sears, S. R., Stanton, A. L., & Danoff-Burg, S. (2003). The yellow brick road and the emerald city: Benefit finding, positive reappraisal coping and posttraumatic growth in women with early-stage breast cancer. Health Psychology, 22(5), 487-497. https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.22.5.487.

Slade, M., Rennick-Egglestone, S., Blackie, L. Llewellyn-Beardsley, J. Franklin, D., Hui, A., …. & Deakin, E. (2019). Post-traumatic growth in mental health recovery: Qualitative study of narratives. BMJ Open, 9, e029342. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029342.

Stockton, H., Hunt, N., & Joseph, S. (2011). Cognitive processing, rumination, and posttraumatic growth. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 24(1), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20606.

Suris, J. C., Parera, N., & Puig, C. (1996). Chronic illness and emotional distress in adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 19, 153-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/1054-139x(95)00231-g.

Taylor, R. M., Gibson, F., & Franck, L. S. (2010). The experience of living with a chronic illness during adolescence: A critical review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(23), 3083-3091. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02629.x.

Valencia, L. S., & Cromer, B. A. (2000). Sexual activity and other high-risk behaviors in adolescents with chronic illness. A review. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 13(2), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1083-3188(00)00004-8.

Weare, K. (2015). What works in promoting social and emotional well-being and responding to mental health problems in schools. London, UK: National Children’s Bureau.

Williamson, P., Koro-Ljungberg, M. E., & Bussing, R. (2009). Analysis of critical incidents and shifting perspectives: Transitions in illness careers among adolescents with ADHD. Qualitative health research, 19(3), 352-365. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1049732308329683.

Wolman, C., Resnick, M. D., Harris, L. J., & Blum, R. W. (1994). Emotional well-being among adolescents with and without chronic conditions. Journal of Adolescent Health, 15(3), 199-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/1054-139x(94)90504-5.

Woodward, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (2001). Life course outcomes of young people with anxiety disorders in adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(9), 1086-1093. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-200109000-00018.

Published

2022-06-16

How to Cite

Yihan. (2022). Narrative review on psychosocial challenges and identity issues associated with severe mental illness in adolescents. International Journal of Studies in Psychology, 2(1), 9-14. https://doi.org/10.38140/ijspsy.v2i1.626