Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders

A mental health problem may not only affect the way a child thinks or feels emotionally but also can strongly influence behavior as well as producing physical complications as well. Many parents unnecessarily blame themselves for the mental illness of their children. The causes of mental illnesses are complex and may have little or nothing to do with parental responsibilities.

Regardless of the cause, treatment of mental problems during childhood is essential because if they remain unresolved, they can interfere with the development of intellectual capacity and emotional maturity. Some mental problems do not emerge until adolescence, when peer pressure to achieve in school or engage in rebellious behavior exerts strong emotional influence, sometimes resulting in:

The child and adolescent psychiatrist initially perform a comprehensive diagnostic examination in order to evaluate the current problem with attention to its physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer, and social components. The child and adolescent psychiatrist arrive at a diagnosis and diagnostic formulation which is shared with the patient and family. The child and adolescent psychiatrist then design a treatment plan which considers all the components and discusses these recommendations with the child or adolescent and family.

Children, teenagers, and adolescents can be afflicted by any of several prevalent mental health disorders, including: