Mental Illness in Children: Diagnosis
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According to the surgeon general, approximately one out of every five children has a diagnosable mental illness.
Children, however, are developing mentally and physically, and their behavior may be difficult to analyze. Actions such as anxiety, anger, and shyness can be a part of developmental growth or a temporary condition rather than an illness. When troubling behaviors occur over a period of time or in a way that disrupts daily life, they are considered symptoms of a disorder.
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Diagnosis usually begins with a medical doctor who takes a lengthy history and examines the child to rule out physical reasons for the difficulties. Lab tests may also be done to test for side effects of medication, for allergies, or for other conditions that could produce symptoms.
If no medical reason is found for the behavior, the doctor refers the child to a psychologist or psychiatrist who treats children and adolescents. A psychologist is trained to evaluate and diagnose mental illnessesbut usually treats them through counseling or behavioral therapy. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose mental illnesses and write prescriptions for medication. Often, the two will work together to provide a combination of counseling and medication. Other therapies, such as music or art, may be added to conventional treatments.
Initial diagnosis is based on reports of behavior from parents, caregivers, and teachers in order to understand how the child functions in different situations. Often a child will have a combination of two or more behaviors, such as anxiety and bedwetting.
The following disorders are common in childhood:
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• Anxiety
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Eating problems
• Bathroom issues
• Feelings of sadness, or moodiness
• Disruptive behavior
• Learning disorders, such as dyslexia
• Involuntary movements, or tics
• Schizophrenia, or distorted thoughts and feelings
Some disorders begin in childhood and continue into adolescence and adulthood. Others go away or improve with age, and some begin later in life. Mental illnesses are usually caused by a combination of factors that fall into four broad categories: environmental, genetic, biological, and psychological. For instance, a child who has a genetic predisposition may develop a disorder when exposed to toxins or physical abuse.
Although many parents want to avoid medication or the stigma of a mental diagnosis, the prognosis is brighter with proper treatment. If a child does not receive necessary care, the illness may continue into adulthood, creating high risk for issues such as substance abuse, antisocial behavior, or suicide.
Mental Illness in Children: Treatment
Source for Treatment: Saba Shabbir Sheikh-Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Contact for Appointment:03008142763
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When given a correct diagnosis and treatment, outlook for a healthy life as an adult is much more positive.
Examples of types of psychotherapy for treating mental illness in children.
Globally, 50 percent of mental illnesses that occur in a lifetime begin by age 14 according to theWorld Health Organization. Some examples of mental disorders that are diagnosed during childhood includeattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and Autistic Disorder. Mental disorders with onsets that occur during either childhood or adulthood include anxietydisorders such as social phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); and mood disorders such as depression. Along with pharmacological treatment, mental illness in children is treated with a range of psychotherapy as reviewed.
Types of Psychotherapy
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Play Therapy www.psychologistinlahore.com
Play therapy is used to treat mental disorders such ODD, ADHD, anxiety, and depression in children between the ages of 3 to 12. It involves a non-threatening form of communication in which toys represent words. Concepts such as displacement (redirecting feelings from an original target to someone else) and projection (attributing one’s own thoughts and feelings toward someone else) are explored during games. Specifically, children engage in storytelling followed by identifying the feelings of characters in the story; role-playing with puppets as a form of feeling projection; and blowing bubbles to improve deep and controlled breathing. The therapist observes feelings and recurring themes, while challenging the child with more effective alternatives to replace disturbing behavior.
Art Therapy www.psychologistinlahore.com
Art therapy is also used to treat ADHD, anxiety, depression, and family/relationship struggles. Children draw a story of their life events, which is a non-threatening form of feeling expression. Therapists may link a color to certain emotions such as red symbolizing anger. Therapists then analyze the drawing for themes and feelings that they discuss with the child.
Animal-Assisted Therapy www.psychologistinlahore.com
Animal-Assisted Therapy is a new approach that is used to treat depression, anxiety, and Autistic Disorder. Specifically, during equine-assisted therapy or horseback riding, the rhythm of the horse soothes, focuses, and improves the moods of children with Autism. Feeding and grooming horses encourage social interaction and personal responsibility in children. Likewise, canine-assisted therapy is used to reduce stress and calm children with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. These animals are also used as a conversation topic between therapists and children.
Operant Conditioning/Applied Behavior Analysis www.psychologistinlahore.com
Children with more severe mental challenges, where they function significantly below average, are treated with operant conditioning. This approach involves reinforcing a desired behavior in increments through cognitive-behavioral techniques. An example is the self-instructive training of reciting instructions while performing a behavior.
A final, valuable form of treatment is the multi-system approach that involves intervention in multiple settings including family, schools, and peer environments. Family training teaches family members effective ways to respond to children with mental illnesses such as by using positive reinforcement for desirable behavior. Therapists also use multimodal therapy, which is a combination of psychosocial and pharmacological therapy. Specifically, antipsychotic medications treat Autism, antidepressants treat depression, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) treat obsessive compulsive disorder in children.
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