Mental distress or psychiatric condition? Exploring the gray area of categorizing psychological suffering among adolescents with obesity: a mixed methods study.
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| Title: | Mental distress or psychiatric condition? Exploring the gray area of categorizing psychological suffering among adolescents with obesity: a mixed methods study. |
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| Authors: | Loisel, Alexandra, Beauquesne, Agathe, Seyler, Morgane, Barry, Caroline, Hassler, Christine, Radjack, Rahmeth, Moro, Marie-Rose, Lachal, Jonathan, Lefèvre, Hervé |
| Source: | European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Aug2025, Vol. 34 Issue 8, p2545-2554. 10p. |
| Subjects: | Psychiatric diagnosis, Self-evaluation, Psychological distress, Qualitative research, Interviewing, Questionnaires, Life expectancy, Physicians' attitudes, Severity of illness index, Anxiety, Quantitative research, Longitudinal method, Attitudes toward obesity, Research methodology, Childhood obesity, Mental depression, Adolescence |
| Abstract: | Introduction Obesity in adolescents is associated with increased mental distress and psychiatric disorders, both of which are under-diagnosed in clinical practice. Methods We designed a mixed methods study, to explore the practical challenges of this screening and its consequences. The qualitative part interviewed 20 physicians: non psychiatrist physicians and child and adolescent psychiatrists – practicing in various specialized settings. The quantitative part examined self-assessment questionnaires and psychiatric clinical diagnoses in 242 patients admitted for inpatient appraisal of obesity. Results 7.9% reported severe depressive symptoms and 71.9% severe anxiety symptoms. Among this cohort, 28.5% were diagnosed with anxiety disorder and 16.9% with depression disorder. Both qualitative and quantitative data show that a large share of adolescents with obesity experience mental health distress, often intense. However, in most of these adolescents, this distress is not diagnosed as a mental health condition, thus creating a discrepancy which we named a "gray area" of psychological suffering. Conclusions Screening adolescents with obesity for both mental health distress and disease should be systematic. Frontline professionals need improved training and referral pathways and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Introduction Obesity in adolescents is associated with increased mental distress and psychiatric disorders, both of which are under-diagnosed in clinical practice. Methods We designed a mixed methods study, to explore the practical challenges of this screening and its consequences. The qualitative part interviewed 20 physicians: non psychiatrist physicians and child and adolescent psychiatrists – practicing in various specialized settings. The quantitative part examined self-assessment questionnaires and psychiatric clinical diagnoses in 242 patients admitted for inpatient appraisal of obesity. Results 7.9% reported severe depressive symptoms and 71.9% severe anxiety symptoms. Among this cohort, 28.5% were diagnosed with anxiety disorder and 16.9% with depression disorder. Both qualitative and quantitative data show that a large share of adolescents with obesity experience mental health distress, often intense. However, in most of these adolescents, this distress is not diagnosed as a mental health condition, thus creating a discrepancy which we named a "gray area" of psychological suffering. Conclusions Screening adolescents with obesity for both mental health distress and disease should be systematic. Frontline professionals need improved training and referral pathways and resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10188827 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00787-025-02673-1 |
