Adolescent medicine

Adolescent medicine physician
Occupation
Names
  • Physician
Occupation type
Specialty
Activity sectors
Medicine
Description
Education required
Fields of
employment
Hospitals, clinics
Related jobs

Adolescent medicine, also known as adolescent and young adult medicine, is a medical subspecialty that focuses on care of patients who are in the adolescent period of development. This period begins at puberty and lasts until growth has stopped,[1][2] at which time adulthood begins. Typically, patients in this age range will be in the last years of middle school up until college graduation (some doctors in this subspecialty treat young adults attending college at area clinics, in the subfield of college health). In developed nations, the psychosocial period of adolescence is extended both by an earlier start, as the onset of puberty begins earlier, and a later end, as patients require more years of education or training before they reach economic independence from their parents.[3]

Medicine is often categorized most simply as pediatric and adult, with the pediatric category covering from infancy through both childhood and adolescence. However, such categorization is further divided in some contexts, such that adolescent medicine can be a more specific focus within pediatrics and geriatrics can be a more specific focus within adult medicine.

Issues with a high prevalence during adolescence are frequently addressed by providers. These include:

  1. ^ Behavioral medicine : a guide for clinical practice. Feldman, Mitchell D.,, Christensen, John F. (Fourth ed.). New York. 2014-08-07. ISBN 9780071767705. OCLC 897078390.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ Rieder S, Alderman EM, Cohen, MI (Feb 2011). "Adolescent Medicine: Emergence of a New Specialty". AMA Journal of Ethics. 7 (3). doi:10.1001/virtualmentor.2005.7.3.msoc1-0503. PMID 23249495. Retrieved 20 Sep 2020.
  3. ^ "Child and Adolescent Health, Credo Encyclopedia". Retrieved October 27, 2013.