Track 16: Child and adolescent psychiatry

Meaning: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is a medical specialty focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental health disorders in children, adolescents, and their families. This field addresses a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental issues that may affect young individuals during their growth and development.

Common Conditions Treated in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

1. Anxiety Disorders: Conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder where children experience excessive worry, fear, or nervousness.

2. Depressive Disorders: Includes major depressive disorder and other mood disorders where children experience persistent sadness, irritability, or a loss of interest in activities.

3. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A disorder characterized by difficulty with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, affecting school and social interactions.

4. Conduct Disorders: Behavioral problems where a child engages in disruptive or harmful behaviors such as aggression, rule-breaking, or lying.

5. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD): A condition marked by a pattern of defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures.

6. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A developmental disorder that affects social interactions, communication, and behavior, with varying levels of severity.

7. Eating Disorders: Includes conditions like anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, where children or adolescents may have unhealthy relationships with food or their body image.

8. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions), leading to distress and dysfunction.

9. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A condition that can develop after a child experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbness.

10. Substance Abuse and Addiction: Disorders related to the misuse of alcohol, drugs, or other substances, often starting during adolescence.

11. Psychosis: Severe mental conditions, such as schizophrenia, where the child or adolescent may lose touch with reality, experiencing hallucinations or delusions.

12. Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts: Adolescents may engage in self-injurious behaviors, such as cutting, or have thoughts of suicide, requiring immediate intervention and support.

Assessment and Diagnosis

Child and adolescent psychiatrists use a variety of tools to assess mental health, including:

• Interviews: Talking with the child, parents, and sometimes teachers to gather information about the child’s behavior, emotions, and development.
• Psychological Testing: Standardized tests to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality, and emotional well-being.
• Behavioral Observation: Observing the child’s behavior in different settings (e.g., home, school) to better understand their difficulties.
• Family and Developmental History: Gathering information about the child’s family background and any potential genetic or environmental factors that could impact mental health.