In children mental illnesses are very common, affecting approximately 15-20 % of children. Although high prevalence, but only 20% receive appropriate care. Untreated psychiatric disorder is associated with significant adverse sequelae including failure to achieve in education, occupation, marriage and child rearing. The strong continuity into adulthood of childhood psychiatric disorder further underscores the importance of early identification and treatment. I will discuss few common mental disorders in children.
Autism:
Children with autism have difficulty in nonverbal communication and social interaction. It is manifested by reduced eye contact, abnormal use of gestures, facial expression, body orientation and speech. Child may have abnormal …show more content…
Depression
Children may also have depressed mood, decreased interest in surrounding and studies and is associated with feeling of worthlessness and even suicidal ideation. Child may feel difficulty in sleeping, fatigue, weight loss. All these symptoms may cause significant distress in children and interfere with their normal day to day functioning and studies.
Anxiety disorders
In this disorders child has pathological anxiety or fear in which anxiety become disabling and interfere with social interactions, routine activities and achievements. Anxiety can be to particular object or situation known as phobias, like height, closed spaces etc. Anxiety can be expressed as crying, clinging and tantrums in children. Children may have separation anxiety, social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (after accident or death of close relative.
Early identification and treatment is the hallmark for management of child in helping him to come out of it and perform best of his
Autism:
Children with autism have difficulty in nonverbal communication and social interaction. It is manifested by reduced eye contact, abnormal use of gestures, facial expression, body orientation and speech. Child may have abnormal …show more content…
Depression
Children may also have depressed mood, decreased interest in surrounding and studies and is associated with feeling of worthlessness and even suicidal ideation. Child may feel difficulty in sleeping, fatigue, weight loss. All these symptoms may cause significant distress in children and interfere with their normal day to day functioning and studies.
Anxiety disorders
In this disorders child has pathological anxiety or fear in which anxiety become disabling and interfere with social interactions, routine activities and achievements. Anxiety can be to particular object or situation known as phobias, like height, closed spaces etc. Anxiety can be expressed as crying, clinging and tantrums in children. Children may have separation anxiety, social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (after accident or death of close relative.
Early identification and treatment is the hallmark for management of child in helping him to come out of it and perform best of his