Citation

Reangsing C, Pitchalard K, Moonpanane K, Wimolphan P. Nurs. Open 2024; 11(4): e2161.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/nop2.2161

PMID

38581165

PMCID

PMC10997954

Abstract

AIM: People who have depression experience a maelstrom of emotion as they attempt to understand what is happening to them. While the experience has been quite extensively documented in adults and older individuals, there is a great deal less information available about adolescent depression experiences and reactions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of Thai-adolescents suffering from depression.

DESIGN: Interpretative phenomenological analysis.

METHOD: Fourteen adolescents were recruited from a secondary school in Chiangrai province, Thailand. Semi-structured interviews were carried out. Interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

RESULTS: The following four themes were identified: (1) struggling to make sense of their situation, (2) feeling down and withdrawing, (3) contemplating self-harm and (4) therapy as a last choice. The results point to the continuing significance of promoting psychoeducation for Thai-adolescents with depression as well as parents, school nurses and health providers while eliminating stigma.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; depression; experience; interpretative phenomenological analysis