Thursday, June 26, 2014

Child Psychiatry Apex Area Practitioners Can Provide Help

By Sherry Gross


Something that is generally not discussed except when symptoms become apparent is mental illness in children. It is a statistic that one fourth of all children and teens are affected by a psychiatric disorder in any given year. When seeking help and treatment for child psychiatry Apex has qualified practitioners.

Some children suffer from anxiety disorders and others from behavior disorders. Depression occurs in approximately two percent of children under twelve. That percentage doubles among adolescents.

During the teen years, alcohol and drug addictions may develop. Schizophrenia typically has an onset age of late teens to early twenties. It can also appear in early childhood although it is rare. Bipolar disorder is not as rare.

There is no one cause for all children afflicted by any mental disorder. Some are biological in origin. The development of any of these conditions may be promoted by environmental conditions. Some children have abnormal levels of serotonin or dopamine in the brain.

Sometimes the size of some lobes are larger or smaller than in people who are not mentally disturbed. Some areas of the physical brain may be more active in those with mental disturbances. Gender may play a role. Girls seem to be suffering from mood disorder more frequently than boys.

There may be a genetic component. Children with a parent who has mental issues are four times as likely to develop a mental illness, compared to children with emotionally healthy parents. This could possibly be attributed to the upbringing provided by parents who are troubled by mental illness.

Regarding nurture, emotionally distressed parents are not likely to raise children in a stable environment. Child abuse, loss of a parent or caretaker or a bullying incident may all be causal factors. A child can be predisposed to developing a mental disturbance.

There are many other factors that cause or contribute to mental disorders. Included are poverty, exposure to conflict and divorce. Some indications of a disorder are boredom, performing poorly in school and frequent headaches. There may be nightmares. Regressive behavior such as bedwetting may also be a sign.

When psychiatric care is indicated, it may include prescription medication. Frequently, the combination of medication and psychotherapy are effective more than medication alone. Childhood schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and clinical depression usually must be controlled with medication.

Some physical conditions require medication that makes the psychiatric disorder worse. Depression, for one, is suspected of being connected to thyroid medication. When psychotherapy is used in conjunction with medication, the subject often has a more rapid recovery or improvement.

The briefest treatment period for a child is six months. In this amount of time significant improvement can be facilitated. Improved relationships with family and friends are noted. Without treatment they may get worse.

Antidepressants used for children are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These have an effect on serotonin levels. They are relatively safe and effective, making them the preferred medications for children. Bipolar disorder is treated with Risperidone, Aripiprazole or Quetapine for children over the age of ten. Treatment with medication must be closely monitored by a child psychiatrist.




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