Childhood Mental Disorders

Table of Contents

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Differences of Child Psychiatry from Adult Psychiatry

  • The child’s existence and emotional development depend on the family or caregivers; cooperation with family members is essential, sometimes requiring written consent.
  • Developmental stages are crucial for the assessment of the diagnosis.
  • The use of psychopharmacotherapy is less common compared to adult psychiatry.
  • Children are less able to express themselves in words.
  • A child suffering from psychiatric problems in childhood can become an emotionally stable adult, but some psychic disturbances can significantly impact the child’s life and their family’s.

Childhood Mental Disorders

Objectives

  • Externalizing disorders
    • Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
    • Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
    • Conduct disorder (CD)
  • Internalizing disorders
    • Separation anxiety disorder (SAD)
  • Pervasive developmental disorder
    • Including autism