Psychoneuropsychiatricity on Adolescent Emotions and Behavior

Abstract

Adolescence was a critical transitional period marked by profound neural circuit transformation, where brain maturation occurred asynchronously. This literature review aimed to examine the relationship between neurobiological brain structure and function and adolescent emotional and behavioral manifestations from a psychoneuropsychiatric perspective. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, and NCBI databases, selecting publications from 2008 to 2026. Synthesized findings revealed that a maturational imbalance between the early-developing limbic system and the immature prefrontal cortex underlay the dominance of emotional responses over cognitive control. Consequently, heightened dopaminergic activity driven elevated sensation-seeking and risk-taking behaviors. This neurobiological vulnerability interacted dynamically with psychosocial factors, escalating susceptibility to psychoneuropsychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and psychosis. Ultimately, implementing a biopsychosocial approach that integrated early screening via standardized instruments with combined psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy was imperative for comprehensive adolescent mental health management.