CHILD &

ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
Childhood psychological problems are fairly common and the figure could be as high
as 20 % if one would believe the western data. So what is it that is so common?
Children can suffer from the following mental
illnesses:
Anxiety disorders: Children with anxiety disorders respond to certain things or
situations with fear and dread, as well as with physical signs of anxiety (nervousness),
such as a rapid heartbeat and sweating.
Disruptive behavior disorders: Children with these disorders tend to defy rules and
often are disruptive in structured environments, such as school eg ADHD/ADD.
Pervasive development disorders: Children with these disorders are confused in their
thinking and generally have problems understanding the world around them.
Eating disorders: Eating disorders involve intense emotions and attitudes, as well as
unusual behaviors, associated with weight and/or food.
Elimination disorders: These disorders affect behavior related to the elimination of
body wastes (feces and urine).
Affective (mood) disorders: These disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness
and/or rapidly changing moods.
Schizophrenia: This is a serious disorder that involves distorted perceptions and
thoughts.
Tic disorders: These disorders cause a person to perform repeated, sudden,
involuntary and often meaningless movements and sounds, called tics.
Some of these illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders,
and schizophrenia, can occur in adults as well as children. Others, such as behavior
and development disorders, elimination disorders, and learning and communication
disorders, begin in childhood only, although they can continue into adulthood. In rare
cases, tic disorders can develop in adults. It is not unusual for a child to have more
than one disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in
Children?
Childrens symptoms vary depending on the type of mental illness, but some of the
general symptoms include:
Changes in school performance, such as poor grades despite good efforts
Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
Inability to cope with daily problems and activities
Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
Excessive complaints of physical ailments
Defying authority, skipping school, stealing, or damaging property
Intense fear of gaining weight
Long-lasting negative moods, often accompanied by poor appetite and thoughts of
death
Frequent outbursts of anger
Loss of interest in friends and activities they usually enjoy
Significant increase in time spent alone
Excessive worrying or anxiety
Hyperactivity
Persistent nightmares or night terrors
Persistent disobedience or aggressive behavior
Frequent temper tantrums
Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)
What Causes Mental Illness?
The exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, but research suggests that a
combination of factors, including heredity, biology, psychological trauma, and
environmental stress, may be involved.
Heredity (genetics): Mental illness tends to run in families, which means
thelikelihood to develop a mental disorder may be passed on from parents to their
children.
Biology: Some mental disorders have been linked to special chemicals in the brain
called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate
with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or not working properly,
messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms. In
addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain also have been linked to
some mental illnesses.
Psychological trauma: Some mental illnesses may be triggered by psychological
trauma, such as
osevere emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
oan important early loss, such as the loss of a parent
oneglect both emotional and physical
Environmental stress: Stressful or traumatic events can trigger a mental illness in a
person with a vulnerability to a mental disorder
How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
As with adults, mental illnesses in children are diagnosed based on signs and
symptoms that suggest a particular disorder. However, this process can be especially
challenging with children. Many behaviors that are seen as symptoms of mental
disorders, such as shyness, anxiety (nervousness), strange eating habits, and temper
tantrums, can occur as a normal part of a childs development. Behaviors become
symptoms when they occur very often, last a long time, occur at an unusual age or
cause significant disruption to the childs and/or familys ability to function.
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete
medical history and physical exam. Although there are no lab tests to specifically
diagnose mental disorders, the doctor may use various tests, such as X-rays and blood
tests, to rule out physical illness or medication side effects as the cause of the
symptoms.
Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools
to evaluate a child for a mental disorder. The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on
reports of the childs symptoms and his or her observation of the childs attitude and
behavior. The doctor often must rely on reports from the childs parents, teachers, and
other adults because children often have trouble explaining their problems or
understanding their symptoms.
How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
Mental illnesses are like many medical disorders that require ongoing treatment.
Although much progress has been made in the treatment of adults with mental
disorders, the treatment of children is not as well understood. Experts are still
exploring which treatments work best for which conditions in children. For now,
many of the treatment options used for children, including many medications, are the
same as what is used to treat adults. The most common treatment options used
include:
Medication: Many mental illnesses can be effectively treated with medications in
combination with therapy. The drugs often used to treat mental disorders in children
include antipsychotics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, stimulants, and mood
stabilizing drugs.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional
response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals
help people deal with their illness, often by talking through strategies for
understanding and dealing with their symptoms, thoughts, and behaviors. Types of
psychotherapy often used with children are supportive, cognitive behavioral,
interpersonal, group, and family therapy.
Creative therapies: Certain therapies, such as art therapy or play therapy, may be
helpful, especially with young children who may have trouble communicating their
thoughts and feelings.
Author is a consultant Psychiatrist in Chandigarh at cheema medical complex, ph. 4,
Mohali.
For any further inquiries
Contact: Dr. Sukhtej Sahni
Email id; sukhtejsahni@yahoo.co.in
Ph. No. 9646001675
CMC Mohali Official Website :- http://www.cmcmohali.com/