Mental disorders in children and adolescents: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Despite the fact that sometimes childhood and adolescence are considered as a time of absence of cares and problems, up to 20% of children and adolescents have one or more diagnosed mental disorders. Most of these disorders can be considered as an exaggeration or a distortion of normal behavior and emotions.
Just like adults, children and adolescents differ in temperament; some are shy and secretive, others are verbose, active, some methodical and cautious, while others are impulsive and inattentive. To determine if a child's behavior is typical of his age or deviation, it is necessary to assess the presence of damage or stress associated with symptoms of concern. For example, a 12-year-old girl may be afraid of the prospect of speaking in front of the class with the message about the book read. This fear will not be seen as a social phobia unless it is strong enough to cause clinically pronounced damage and suffering.
In many respects the symptoms of many disorders and the evoking behavior and emotions of normal children overlap. Thus, many of the strategies used to address behavioral problems in children (see below) can also be used in children with mental disorders. Moreover, the proper treatment of behavioral disorders in childhood can prevent the development of the entire picture of the disorder in children with a vulnerable and vulnerable nature.
The most common mental disorders in childhood and adolescence fall into 4 broad categories: anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, mood disorders (primarily depression) and social behavior disorders. Nevertheless, more often children and adolescents have symptoms and problems that go against the accepted diagnostic limits.
Examination
Assessment of complaints or symptoms from mental health in children and adolescents differs from that of adults in 3 main positions. First, the context of neuropsychic development is extremely important for children. Behavior that may be normal at an early age may indicate a serious mental disorder in older children. Secondly, children exist within the family, and it has a profound effect on the child's symptoms and behavior; a normal child living in a family that practices domestic violence and the use of drugs and alcohol may look superficially as if he or she has one or more mental disorders. Third, children often lack the cognitive and linguistic capabilities to accurately describe the symptoms that worry them. Thus, the physician should first of all rely on the data of direct observation of the child, confirmed by observation of others, for example, by parents and teachers.
In many cases, problems and fears arise about the child's neuropsychological development, and they are difficult to distinguish from the problems that result from a mental disorder. These fears often appear due to low school performance, delayed speech development, and insufficient social skills. In such cases, the examination should include appropriate testing of psychological and neuropsychological development.
In connection with these factors, the examination of a child with a mental disorder is usually more difficult than a comparable level of examination of an adult patient. Fortunately, most cases are not severe, and a primary care physician can provide competent treatment. However, in severe cases, treatment is best done by consulting with a psychiatrist specializing in working with children and adolescents.
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