Paroxysmal Emotionality in a Group of Adolescents with Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

General Objective: Characterize the categorical and dimensional psychopathological spectrum of a group of adolescents Specific objectives: Describe the sociodemographic composition of the sample, characterize the psychopathological alterations of these adolescents and identify the negative emotions with clinical significance that characterize the group. Methods: A quantitative-qualitative methodology, a descriptive exploratory study and a non-experimental cross-sectional design were assumed. We worked with a non-probabilistic intentional sample, which included 20 adolescents who met the study inclusion criteria. A Modified Grau Experiential Self-Report, a Sentence Completion and an in-depth interview were applied to them. Descriptive statistics of the evaluated constructs were performed. Results: The initial diagnostic impression reflected that (50%) (n=20) have a Conduct Disorder, (30%) (n=20) have an Anxiety Disorder, (15%) (n=20) suffers from a Depressive Episode, while through the Self-report it was identified that 95% (n=20) have poor emotional regulation, 80% (n=20) suffer from anxiety, have tense emotional health and trait anger, the 75% (n=20) have depression and suffer possible Alexithymia, (70%) (n=20) are affected by psychological trauma. Conclusions: the group was characterized by having an average age of 15 years, with a predominance of the male sex, a high school education and the white race. The psychopathological alterations that characterized the group were conduct disorders, anxiety and depressive episode, and in terms of dimensions, it was characterized by high negativity and low positivity. The paroxysmal negative emotions that characterize the group are anxiety, irritability, anger, impulsiveness, apathy, demotivation, and unpleasant emotion that they cannot define.