Treatment
of Children with Mental Disorders
A Note to Parents
There has been public concern over reports that very young children are
being prescribed psychotropic medications. The studies to date are
incomplete, and much more needs to be learned about young children who are
treated with medications for all kinds of illnesses. In the field of
mental health, new studies are needed to tell us what the best treatments
are for children with emotional and behavioral disturbances.
Children are in a state of rapid change and growth during their
developmental years. Diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders must be
viewed with these changes in mind. While some problems are short-lived and
don't need treatment, others are persistent and very serious, and parents
should seek professional help for their children.
Not long ago, it was thought that many brain disorders such as anxiety
disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder began only after childhood. We
now know they can begin in early childhood. An estimated 1 in 10 children
and adolescents in the United States suffer from mental illness severe
enough to cause some level of impairment. Fewer than 1 in 5 of these ill
children receives treatment. Perhaps the most studied, diagnosed, and
treated childhood-onset mental disorder is attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), but even with this disorder there is a need for further
research in very young children. A series of questions we are frequently
asked regarding the treatment of children with mental disorders follow.
Questions and Answers
Q: What should I do if I am concerned about mental, behavioral,
or emotional symptoms in my young child?
A: Talk to your child's doctor. Ask questions and find out everything
you can about the behavior or symptoms that worry you. Every child is
different and even normal development varies from child to child. Sensory
processing, language, and motor skills are developing during early
childhood, as well as the ability to relate to parents and to socialize
with caregivers and other children. If your child is in daycare or
preschool, ask the caretaker or teacher if your child has been showing any
worrisome changes in behavior, and discuss this with the doctor.
Q: How do I know if my child's problems are serious?
A: Many everyday stresses cause changes in behavior. The birth of a
sibling may cause a child to temporarily act much younger. It is important
to recognize such behavior changes, but also to differentiate them from
signs of more serious problems. Problems deserve attention when they are
severe, persistent, and impact on daily activities. Seek help for your
child if you observe problems such as changes in appetite or sleep, social
withdrawal, or fearfulness; behavior that seems to slip back to an earlier
phase such as bedwetting; signs of distress such as sadness or
tearfulness; self-destructive behavior such as head banging; or a tendency
to have frequent injuries. In addition, it is essential to review the
development of your child, any important medical problem he/she might have
had, family history of mental disorders, and physical and psychological
traumas or situations that may cause stress.
Q: Whom should I consult to help my child?
A: First, consult your child's doctor. Ask for a complete health
examination of your child. Describe the behaviors that worry you. Ask
whether your child needs further evaluation by a specialist in child
behavioral problems. Such specialists may include psychiatrists,
psychologists, social workers, and behavioral therapists. Educators may
also be needed to help your child.
Q: How are mental disorders diagnosed in young children?
A: Similar to adults, disorders are diagnosed by observing signs and
symptoms. A skilled professional will consider these signs and symptoms in
the context of the child's developmental level, social and physical
environment, and reports from parents and other caretakers or teachers,
and an assessment will be made according to criteria established by
experts. Very young children often cannot express their thoughts and
feelings, which makes diagnosis a challenging task. The signs of a mental
disorder in a young child may be quite different from those of an older
child or an adult.
Q: Won't my child get better with time?
A: Sometimes yes, but in other cases children need professional help.
Problems that are severe, persistent, and impact on daily activities
should be brought to the attention of the child's doctor. Great care
should be taken to help a child who is suffering, because mental,
behavioral, or emotional disorders can affect the way the child grows up.
Q: Which mental disorders are seen in children?
A: Mental disorders with possible onset in childhood include: anxiety
disorders, attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders, autism and
other pervasive developmental disorders, eating disorders (e.g., anorexia
nervosa), mood disorders (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder),
schizophrenia, and tic disorders. Under some circumstances, bedwetting and
soiling may be symptoms of a mental disorder.
Q: Can events such as a death in the family, illness in a parent,
onset of poverty, or divorce cause symptoms?
A: Yes. When a tragedy occurs or some extreme stress hits, every member
of a family is affected, even the youngest ones. This should also be
considered when evaluating mental, emotional, or behavioral symptoms in a
child.
Information
provided by the National Institute of Mental Health
Medications
for Children
Children and Mental Health
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