Mental Health / Mental Health Disorders in Children:  Healthy Mental care

Children, Mental Illness and Medicines

It is unfortunate that childhood offers no protection against mental illness. In the United States, one in five children and adolescents suffer from mental health problems at any given time. The key to ideally handling these childhood disorders is for parents to recognize the problem and seek appropriate treatment. The causes of mental illness in children are complex and never due to a single factor. As with other types of illnesses, mental disorders have specific diagnostic criteria and treatments, and a complete evaluation by a child psychiatrist is imperative to determine whether a child needs help.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on a collaborative process that should involve psychiatric and other physicians, the child, the child's family, and school-based or other health care clinicians as appropriate. They are involved in an assessment designed to reach a comprehensive diagnosis and the creation of a treatment plan. When deciding what treatment will best benefit the child, it is essential to apply a careful diagnostic assessment after a thorough evaluation of psychiatric, social, cognitive, educational and medical/neurological factors.

 Treatment

Psychiatrists develop a comprehensive treatment plan that encompasses all aspects of a child's life. After a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, an individual treatment approach based on any coexisting mental and physical conditions should be selected according to the child's needs and family and child preferences. Psychotherapy, family and school consultation and medication are all potential elements of comprehensive treatment.

Medications should not be used alone due to the need to deal with ongoing developmental processes. The benefits of psychotropic medications along with various forms of therapy (e.g., cognitive-behavior therapy, psychotherapy, parental and family therapy, social skills training and group therapy) should be carefully examined and accounted for when determining the next steps. Medications should not automatically be considered to be the first choice in treatment, and they should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan only when their benefits outweigh the risk.