Disorders that can appear during childhood and adolescence
Depressive; anxiety; trauma- and stressor-related; substance use; feeding and eating; disruptive, impulse control, and conduct; neurodevelopmental; bipolar; schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic; nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior; and impulse c
Factors impeding diagnosis
Children might not have the ability or skills to describe what is happening
Children demonstrate a wide variation of "normal" behaviors, especially in different developmental stages
It is difficult to determine whether a child's behavior indicates an emot
Characteristics of good mental health
Ability to appropriately interpret reality and have correct perception of surrounding environment
Positive self-concept
Ability to cope with stress and anxiety in an age-appropriate manner
Mastery of developmental tasks
Ability to express oneself spontane
Characteristics of pathologic behaviors
Not age-appropriate
Deviate from cultural norms
Create deficits or impairments in adaptive functioning
Etiology and general risk factors of mental health issues
Genetic links or chromosomal abnormalities
Biochemical: alterations in neurotransmitters
Social and environmental: low socioeconomic status, large families, parental depression, foster care placement, etc.
Cultural and ethnic: difficulty with assimilation
Risk factors of depressive disorders
Family history, physical or sexual abuse or neglect, homelessness, bullying, etc.
Expected findings of depressive disorders
Feelings of sadness, loss of appetite, work or play alone, crying, loss of energy, etc.
Expected findings of anxiety disorders and trauma- and stressor-related disorders
Anxiety or level of stress interferes with growth and development
Child is unable to function normally in many areas of life
Separation anxiety disorder
Excessive anxiety when child is separated or anticipating separation from parents or home
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Caused by experiencing, witnessing, or learning of a traumatic event
Expected findings of disruptive, impulse control, and conduct disorders
Behavioral problems at school, church, home, and/or recreational activities
Manifestations usually worsen in situations that require sustained attention (classrooms) and unstructured group situations (playground)
Oppositional defiant disorder
Recurrent pattern of antisocial behaviors such as: negativity, disobedience, hostility, stubbornness, and limit testing
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
Recurrent temper outbursts that are severe and do not correlate with situation
Intermittent explosive disorder
Recurrent episodic violent and aggressive behavior with the possibility of hurting people, property, or animals
Conduct disorder
Persistent pattern of behavior that violates the rights of others or rules and norms of society. Examples include: aggression to people and animals, destruction of property, and theft.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Inability of a person to control behaviors requiring sustained attention
Autism spectrum disorder
Thought to be of genetic origin with a wide spectrum of behaviors affecting an individual's ability to communicate and interact with others. Cognitive and language development are typically delayed
Intellectual developmental disorder
Onset of deficits and impairments during the developmental period of infancy or childhood
Specific learning disorder
Persistent difficulty in acquiring reading, writing, or mathematical skills
Nursing care for children with mental disorders
Obtain a complete nursing history
Perform a complete physical assessment, including a mental status examination
Use primary intervention, such as education, peer group discussions, and mentoring to prevent risky behavior and to promote healthy behavior an
Interventions for children with mental disorders
Anxiety disorders: provide emotional support, provide protection by providing for needs, and help increase the client's self-esteem
Trauma- and stressor-related disorders: assist working through traumatic events or losses, and encourage group therapy
Disr
Medications for children with mental disorders
ADHD: psychostimulant drugs and nonstimulant selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Autism spectrum disorders: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antipsychotic medications
Intermittent explosive disorder: selective serotonin reuptake inhibit
Interprofessional care
includes family therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, grief and trauma intervention, group therapy, play or music therapy, and mutual storytelling