ABP Adolescent key terms

A five-stage scale describing secondary sexual characteristics-breast development, genital growth, and pubic hair-used to assess pubertal progress and identify unusually early or late maturation.

The maximum rate of linear growth during the adolescent growth spurt, typically occurring about two years after pubertal onset and earlier in girls than in boys.

Onset of secondary sexual development before age 8 in girls or age 9 in boys, requiring evaluation for central or peripheral causes and consideration of treatment to preserve adult height.

Absence of secondary sexual development by age 13 in girls or age 14 in boys, prompting evaluation for constitutional delay, chronic disease, or endocrine disorders.

The first menstrual period, usually occurring two to three years after breast budding and near the end of the adolescent growth spurt; its timing varies with nutrition and genetics.

Benign breast enlargement in boys caused by transient estrogen-androgen imbalance during puberty; usually symmetric, tender, and self-limited, but persistent or asymmetric enlargement warrants evaluation.

Maturation of the adrenal zona reticularis, producing weak androgens that cause pubic and axillary hair growth before gonadarche; premature adrenarche can resemble early puberty.

A radiographic estimate of skeletal maturity, often from a hand and wrist film, compared with chronological age to evaluate growth disorders, precocious puberty, or delayed puberty.

A structured adolescent interview covering Home, Education, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, and Suicide or mood, designed to uncover psychosocial risks while building rapport and guiding counseling.

A clinical practice of explaining privacy limits to teens and parents, then protecting health information unless safety concerns require disclosure, which encourages honest disclosure and engagement in care.

A schedule that brings adolescents up to date on missed vaccines, including Tdap, HPV, meningococcal, hepatitis B, and varicella, based on age and prior documented doses.

A vaccine series that prevents human papillomavirus infections linked to cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers; routinely recommended in early adolescence and catch-up through age 26.

A brief validated adolescent substance-use screen asking about Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, and Trouble; a score of two or more suggests further assessment or brief intervention.

A self-report depression screening tool adapted for adolescents, derived from the PHQ-9, used to identify depressive symptoms and guide follow-up assessment rather than confirm a diagnosis.

A screening measure for weight status in youth, calculated from height and weight and plotted by age and sex; categories range from underweight to obesity.

A collaborative counseling style that uses open questions, reflective listening, and affirmation to strengthen a teen's own motivation and confidence for behavior change without confrontation.

A persistent mood disorder marked by depressed mood or anhedonia for at least two weeks, with impairment, sleep, appetite, concentration, or suicidal symptoms; diagnosis requires clinical interview.

Markedly reduced ability to experience pleasure from activities that were previously enjoyable, a core symptom of adolescent depression and sometimes an early sign of psychosis.

Thoughts, plans, or wishes about ending one's life, ranging from passive wishes to active intent; any disclosure in an adolescent warrants immediate risk assessment and safety planning.

Deliberate self-inflicted harm without suicidal intent, often cutting or burning, used to regulate distressing emotions; it raises risk for later suicide and needs compassionate assessment.

A pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative behavior, and vindictiveness lasting at least six months, causing impairment and exceeding typical developmental defiance.

A neurodevelopmental condition with persistent inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that impairs school, social, or home functioning and begins before age 12.

Persistent fear of negative evaluation in social or performance situations, leading to avoidance or distress that interferes with school, friendships, or daily activities.

A spectrum of unhealthy eating thoughts and behaviors-such as restrictive dieting, bingeing, or purging-that may not meet full criteria for an eating disorder but still harm health.

Contraceptive methods-the implant and intrauterine devices-that provide pregnancy prevention for months to years without daily adherence; recommended as first-line options for adolescents.

A small rod placed under the upper arm that releases progestin for several years, preventing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus; highly effective and safe for most adolescents.

Methods used after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure to reduce pregnancy risk, including levonorgestrel, ulipristal acetate, and copper IUD; effectiveness depends on timing and method.

Annual nucleic acid testing of urine or genital samples in sexually active adolescents, especially those under 25, to detect often-asymptomatic infection and prevent pelvic inflammatory disease.

Ascending infection of the upper genital tract, often from chlamydia or gonorrhea, causing abdominal pain, fever, or discharge; prompt treatment reduces tubal damage and infertility.

Distress caused when a young person's experienced gender differs from their assigned sex, requiring respectful assessment and individualized support; not all gender-diverse adolescents experience dysphoria.

A voluntary, informed, and ongoing agreement to engage in sexual activity, requiring capacity and freedom from coercion; adolescents need clear education about boundaries and legal age rules.

Using condoms together with a highly effective contraceptive method to prevent both sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, a key counseling strategy for sexually active adolescents.

The degree to which asthma symptoms, nighttime awakening, rescue inhaler use, and activity limitation are minimized; assessing control guides stepwise medication adjustment and prevents exacerbations.

An autoimmune condition causing insulin deficiency and requiring lifelong insulin therapy; adolescents face glycemic variability, peer pressure, and transition to adult diabetes care.

A neurological disorder of recurrent unprovoked seizures; adolescent management includes medication adherence, safety counseling, sleep hygiene, and planning for driving or sports.

An inherited hemoglobin disorder causing painful vaso-occlusive episodes, anemia, and organ damage; adolescents need hydration, pain plans, vaccination, and transition planning.

Inhalation of aerosol from battery-powered devices, often containing nicotine and flavorings; adolescent use risks addiction, respiratory symptoms, and exposure to harmful chemicals.

A problematic pattern of cannabis use causing impairment or distress, with tolerance, withdrawal, and difficulty cutting down; adolescent use can affect memory, motivation, and mental health.

A planned process preparing adolescents with chronic conditions to move from pediatric to adult health care, including self-management skills, insurance knowledge, and transfer of records.