Posts Tagged ‘Children’

Common Mental Health Problems in Children

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

By Christina Taylor

Physical health problems like fever are easily recognizable. But when it comes to mental health problems, parents usually could not easily identify the problem but they can learn to recognize the symptoms. Thus, parents need to pay more attention if their children are showing signs of excessive anger, fear, sadness or anxiety.

A common mental health problem that children can experience is depression. It is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It is not just a feeling of being sad. But people who have depression will have it all their lives. It is persistent and it can interfere with everyday life. So how can parents know if their child has depression? Signs of depression are sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities the child used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, and worst, thoughts of death or suicide.

Parents with depression should also be more observant of their children’s feelings. Because depression can run in the family and this can usually start between the ages of 15 and 30. This is also more common in women.

Another mental health problem is fear and anxiety. Children may feel anxious before a test or to walk down a dark street. But this is a useful form of anxiety. This can make your children become more alert or careful. This also does not last long and will often end as soon as they are out of the situation that causes anxiety. But there are also anxieties that do not go away and gets worse over time. Children with anxiety have chest pains or nightmares. They may even be afraid to leave home. There are different types of anxiety disorder: panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, phobias and generalized anxiety disorder.

A third common mental health problem is behavior disorders. It is natural that kids misbehave sometimes, but this kind of disorder is more than just doing mischief and rebellion. Kids with behavior disorder will have a pattern of hostile, aggressive or disruptive behaviors for more than 6 months. Signs that parents should pay attention to are harming or threatening themselves, or other people or pets; damaging or destroying property; lying or stealing; not doing well in school, skipping school; early smoking, drinking or drug use; early sexual activity; frequent tantrums or arguments; and consistent hostility towards authority figures.

Another problem is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. Signs of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. This behavior can last more than six months and causes problems at school, at home and in social situations. This is also more common in boys than in girls.

These behaviors can have a great effect to the lives of children and the people around them. These behaviors can disrupt daily life at home, at school or in the community. Parents who have children with signs of mental health problem should get them checked by a professional to stop the problem from getting worse.

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An Integrative Approach To Mental Health Conditions

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

By Madison Vatse

Today, mental health conditions are commonly diagnosed. Depression is widespread, and commonly treated with antidepressants. Attention Deficit Disorder is very commonly diagnosed, with stimulants prescribed quite often. Bipolar Disorder is becoming a common mental health diagnosis with medications prescribed frequently.

I have been a Board Certified practicing Psychiatrist for the past twenty years. My current observations are based on years of experience from talking to people diagnosed with these conditions.

I remember many years ago wondering why I was being asked to prescribe medication to children eating fast food and lots of sweets. How was I to tell if these children really had ADD, or were their systems “stressed” from lack of nutrients?

I also wondered about the role of our sedentary lifestyle in the increasing numbers of people diagnosed with mental health conditions. Chlldren seem to watch hours of TV and spend even more time in front of computers and video games. Yet, when we take them from this environment to a mainstream classroom we consider them distractible. But their brains have been programmed to absorb stimuli from TV and computers since they were very young. So are they really distractible, or have their learning circuits not yet been wired to learn traditionally?

And as for adults with sedentary lifestyles, it seems to reason that depression or mood disorder is a consequence.

Of course, many people with healthy lifestyles still suffer from depression, ADD and the like. But are we adequately evaluating the role of lifestyle when we make our diagnosis and prescribe medication?

Talking to literally hundreds of familes is a very humbling process. The more you get to know people the less you really understand. As a clinician, my dilemma was always, does this child or adult need medication? And have all other variables contributing to distractibility or other mental health issue been addressed first?

Another area that is not typically evaluated in a routine doctor’s visit is that of exposure to environmental toxins. As a conventional practitioner, I used to believe only small numbers of people were particularly sensitive to the environment.

Pollution is everywhere. How can we think that pollution will not affect our health and well-being, physical or mental?

We usually think of pollution as coming from fumes in the air from cars or factories. It’s true, but pollution is far more widespead than that. The plastic liners that we use to feed our infants formula contain toxins. The carpets our babies are crawling on are full of toxins.

How can we think that consistent exposure to toxins, even microtoxins, and lack of nutrition will not have an effect on our children’s physical and emotional states? And how about ours?

Last year, several colleagues and I published a study on the effects of nutritional supplements in children with Bipolar Disorder. Out of 15 children, 14 demonstrated considerable improvements with addition of high quality nutritional supplements. All the children were prescribed psychotropic medication. After 6 months of nutritional supplements, their side effect scores dropped from 45.9 to 3.6!

Clearly more scientific research is needed in these areas. But if you are on psychotropic medication, or have a child on psychotropic medication, it would seem prudent to do everything possible to minimize stress in your bodies. That includes eating as healthy as possible. Healthy cells make for healthy bodies.

It also means vigilance around the issue of environmental toxins. In reality, we are all exposed to toxins, more than ever before. Also, cleansing the body with fresh water and quality supplements becomes essential for health maintenance.

A proactive approach to one’s mental health will go along way toward restoration of balance and stability of the mind and of the emotions.

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How ADHD Can Affects Mental Health of Children Younger Then 7?

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Signs and symptoms of ADHD

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are the key symptoms of ADHD. Get easily distracted Hyperactivity involves moving around, jumping, and climbing when others are seated.

The child cannot sit still and behaves at par than others. A doctor may adopt various medications in various doses to see the benefits of it on the child and his responsiveness to it. Children with ADHD carry a thin version of brain tissue from their genes in the areas associated with brain attention Environmental factors such as smoking and alcohol during pregnancy have a potential link with ADHD A small percentage of children with brain injury show signs of ADHD

What other illness can exist with ADHD?

Parents being the main support for the child require good education and knowledge of the treatment along with the doctor to help child come out of this mental health problem. Children have difficulty in focusing and forget things fast. Children with this kind of mental disorder have impaired functioning in home, schools, and relationship with their peer groups.

Difficulty in organizing and following instructions Have difficulty processing information and get easily bored. However certain environmental factors, nutrition and brain injury cannot be disregarded. Every child has different temperaments and personalities. ADHD can also coexist with bedwetting, substance abuse, sleep disorder, and other mental health disorders.

Behavioral therapy attempts to change behavior patterns of the child helping him to focus, organize, react positively to his goals, and receive awards for the same. ADHD is a mental health disorder that needs supervision and support.

How can ADHD be treated?

Children with ADHD can have other illness like: Learning disability mental health disorders like depression and Bipolar disorder Conduct disorder where a child can lie, or resort to stealing Oppositional defiant disorder where a child is over rebellious and refuses to obey orders of an adult.

Specialists and mental health professionals achieve in treating the child by developing an individualized long-term plan where the goal is to help the child control his behavior and the families to create an atmosphere where this is possible.

Many children with ADHD are able to control their behavioral structures when they get individual attention and are allowed to enjoy in playful activities. This mental illness is diagnosed between the age of 3 to 6 by a mental health specialist or a pediatrician.

The disorder can have long-term adverse effects in adolescence and adulthood if not treated on time. Many studies state that like many other mental health disorders genes are a vital cause for ADHD. Teachers, doctors, family and therapists all play a vital role in the child’s treatment and you being a stronger advocate to your child should take advantage of all the support available and help the child navigate towards success.

ADHD cannot not be compared or related with other disorders. It is a neurobehavioral disorder, which affects the mental health of the children globally before seven years of age. Mental Health – Individualized Attention can prevent ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is the most common psychiatric disorder diagnosed in children.

A specialist focuses on the child’s behavior patterns, the environment he is used to, his family history, and his performance in school as well as in other outdoor and indoor activities. ADHD can be effectively managed but cannot be cured.

Children with this kind of mental health disorder can only be diagnosed if the symptoms persist for more than six months or to a greater degree. Behavioral therapy and medication is considered very effective in treating ADHD but requires close monitoring by the specialist as well as the family. It is very normal for children to possess these behavioral patterns but those with ADHD, these mental health behaviors are severe and occur very frequently.

Children are constantly in motion Talk non-stop and have difficulty in doing quite activities Cannot sit at a dinner table and jump around Impulsivity involves: Reacting quickly without thinking Blurting out inappropriate comments Being impatient Interrupting conversations very often

How can ADHD be diagnosed?

Inattention exists due to the following: The child is Daydreaming or is not bothered about the surroundings and is in his own world.

The Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders and Mental Illness in Children

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Mental health disorders and mental illnesses affect a greater number of children and juveniles than many people are aware of. These emotional and behavioral disorders can have profound negative effects on the growth and development of children, especially when they go unnoticed and untreated. A greater proportion of children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have mental health problems than children and youth in the general population.

-50% of children and youth in the child welfare system have mental health problems.
-67% to 70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health disorder.

Prevalence Estimates of Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders In Young People

DISORDER                                            PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG PEOPLE AFFECTED

Learning D/O:                                                                5%
Substance use / addiction disorder:                                  10.3%
CD:                                                                              3.5%
ODD:                                                                            2.8%
ADHD:                                                                           4.5%
Anxiety Disorders (various):                                             8%
Unipolar Disorder:                                                           5.2%
One or more disorders:                                                   17%

(D/O = Disorder; CD = Conduct Disorder; ODD = Oppositional Defiant Disorder; ADHD = Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Source: Preventing Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, 2009. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, of the National Academies.)

Early Detection and Intervention are Critical

The onset of major mental illness may occur as early as 7 to 11 years old.
-Research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that half of adults with MEB disorders were first diagnosed by age 14 and three fourths were diagnosed by age 24. Â
-Factors that predict mental health problems can be identified in the early years, with children and youth from low-income  households at increased risk for mental health problems. Â

Age at Onset of First Symptom of Full Psychiatric Disorder, by Age 21

DISORDER                        AVG. AGE OF FIRST SYMPTOM            AVG. AGE OF FIRST DIAGNOSIS

ADHD:                                            Age 5                                                 Age 5
ODD:                                              Age 5                                                 Age 10
CD:                                                Age 6                                                 Age 11
Anxiety Disorders (Various):              Age 7                                                 Age 8
Depression:                                     Age 12                                               Age 15
Substance Abuse:                             Age 14                                               Age 15
Substance Dependence:                    Age 16                                               Age 17
Any Psychiatric Diagnosis:                  Age 9                                                 Age 11

(Source: Preventing Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People, 2009. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, of the National Academies)

Obstacles to Access and Quality in Mental Healthcare

Several federal commissions and workgroups federal task forces have documented the need for improved and expanded mental health services for children and youth.

-It is estimated that less than 1 in 5 of these children receive the appropriate needed treatment Â
-Only 15% of youths who had difficulties had parents that actively talked to a health care provider or school staff about their child?s emotional or behavioral difficulties. Â

There is not adequate financial support for quality services to prevent and treat mental health problems of children and youth. Many child mental health services are not covered by managed care payers. In 2007, 3.1 million youths, (12.5 percent of 12 to 17 year olds) received treatment or counseling for problems with behavior or emotional disturbances in specialty mental health settings (which include inpatient and outpatient care).

Effective Treatment and Prevention Exists

Clear windows of opportunity are available to prevent MEB disorders and related problems before they occur. An intervention before a disorder manifests itself is possible and offers the best opportunity to protect young people. Effective prevention includes strengthening families by targeting problems, strengthening individuals by building resilience and skills, preventing specific disorders by screening individuals at risk, promoting mental health in schools and promoting mental health through health care and community programs. The key to most approaches is to identify risks (biological, psychological and social factors) that may increase a child?s risk of MEB disorders.

Treatment And Diagnosis Of Mental Disorders In Children

Monday, September 21st, 2009

In the field of mental health the studies are necessarily done to provide the best treatments for the children with emotional and behavioral problems. In the development stage children are in a fast change and growth. The identification and the treatment of the mental disorders have to be viewed with these changes in mind.
There are few mental disorders in children that can be treated with medicines. There are a few problems that are serious and persistent and these mental disorders have to be treated by a medical practitioner. The brain disorders such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder begins after the childhood days.
Recent studies show that the brain disorders sets in some children in a very early stage. There is an assessment of around 1 in 10 children and adolescents in the United States suffer from mental disorders that are severe to cause some level of damage. The most studied, diagnosed and treated child onset disorder is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Treatment of the children with mental disorders

The symptoms that are worrying the person whose child has some behavioral problems can ask questions and find out the reasons for the same. One should talk to the doctor for these reasons.
The development of each child varies and is different. Language, sensory processing and motor skills develop at the early childhood and also the ability to relate with their peer, parents and care takers. If your child has been troublesome and is displaying some changes in the behavior that are worrying the caretakers, then it’s advisable to discuss the problem with the child specialist. The stresses cause a change in behavior.
The problems that need attention are those which are severe, persistent and have a disturbing effect in the day to day activities. If there are problems relating to the changes in appetite or sleep, social withdrawal, or fearfulness, signs such as the sadness or tearfulness, self destructing nature, bed wetting etc.
Diagnosis of mental disorders

A complete check up and examination of your child is a must. Discuss the behavioral problems of the child. The specialists who can diagnosis the problem may include the psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and behavioral therapists.
The signs and symptoms are observed and thus, this helps in identifying the disorders. The doctor will observe the child’s development level, social and physical environment and also consider the reports from parents and the caretakers.