title: Depression in female adolescents: an IPA analysis.
abstract: Six female adolescents participated in open-ended interviews regarding their experiences of depression. The transcripts of their interviews were explored using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, 1991). The analysis revealed three inter-connected super-ordinate themes which were: communication, hurt self, and difference. These themes centred on communication processes in participants' families and with peers, issues relating to shifts in identity through adolescence, and feelings of being damaged, distressed, and hurt. Amongst a range of potentially relevant perspectives, an attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969) orientation was found to be particularly relevant and helpful in interpreting the themes that captured these young women's experiences. Some implications for clinical practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Children's Hospital, UK. Samantha.Shaw@UHBristol.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Samantha K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dallos
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shoebridge
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D054541:Family Conflict; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007063:Identity Crisis; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009769:Object Attachment; D012649:Self Concept; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012933:Social Identification