Does
my Child Have One? Knowing When to Seek Help
If you are a parent or guardian of a child that has been identified
with a serious emotional disorder (SED), a neurobiological brain
disorder (NBD), or mental illness, you are the best judge of your
child's special needs and particular strengths. Your direct and
active participation in his or her treatment is essential to successful
outcomes as your child receives services from the mental health
and educational communities.
I've been told my child is seriously emotionally disturbed. What
does that mean?
Serious emotional disturbance (SED) is a broad term used by school
systems to classify students that exhibit any of a wide variety
of behavioral disorders or mental health problems. These problems
may be due to sociological or environmental causes (such as abuse,
neglect, crime, poverty, or emotional, neurotic, or life-adjustment
issues) but SED also includes children with neurobiological brain
disorders (NBD).
What are neurobiological disorders, or mental illnesses in children?
Neurobiological disorders, neurobiological brain disorders (NBD),
and mental illness are terms used for a group of brain disorders
that cause disturbances in thinking, feeling, or relating. These
disorders result in a substantially reduced capacity for coping
with the ordinary demands of everyday life.
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, including children
and adolescents. They can occur in any family, and they are not
anyone's fault.
What specific disorders, sometimes referred to by professionals
as diagnostic categories, are considered neurobiological disorders?
Schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar disorder (manic
depression), major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic
disorder, borderline personality disorder, autism, pervasive developmental
disorders, Tourette's syndrome, and attention deficit disorder (with
or without hyperactivity) are a class of severe and persistent neurobiological
brain disorders.
You can learn more about these disorders by consulting The Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (referred
to as "DSM-IV"), published by the American Psychiatric
Association. It is available in the reference section of most public
libraries and in Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI) libraries.
How do I know if my child is affected?
If you suspect your child is ill, or if a teacher or school counselor
suggests that your child should be evaluated, you should seek a
professional's advice. NAMI would recommend a psychiatric evaluation,
preferably performed by a psychiatrist who specializes in children
and adolescents.
How can I get an accurate diagnosis for my child?
Research in the biomedical field is ensuring more accurate diagnoses.
Well-qualified and licensed psychiatrists that can evaluate and
make a diagnosis can be found in university-affiliated schools and
hospitals and in private practice.
Most younger psychiatrists, trained in the past 10 to 15 years,
recognize that all brain disorders have a biological underpinning.
These medical doctors will outline the kind of treatment they believe
will be most appropriate for your child. You will want to choose
a professional who respects your role and views the family not as
part of the child's problem, but as a strength the child can build
on.
What kind of treatments or programs should I be seeking for my child?
If you have been able to get an accurate diagnosis, you are well
on your way. Your child's psychiatrist may offer medication or a
combination of medication and psychotherapy. The doctor may suggest
that another person (such as a social worker or psychologist (provide
the therapy while he overseas the medication. The therapist generally
talks extensively with the child about his feelings and conflicts,
his current problems, and how to establish good relationships with
those around him.
Parents need to be informed about the goals of psychotherapy, behavior-management
techniques, and family therapy. Ask questions. Find out the qualifications
of various therapists. Find out how long such therapies will last
and how much they will cost. Who will pay if you cannot? Be an informed
consumer. Ask other families who have been through similar situations.
AMI and AMI-CAN families generally have answers to these and other
questions you will have.
Where can I find out about medications that have been prescribed
for my child?
First, ask the psychiatrist who prescribed them. Questions you will
want to ask include: What symptoms might the medication alter? When
and how should the medication be taken? What side effects should
I be looking for? What are the short- and long-term effects of the
medications? Are there any toxic side effects that the child may
experience that I should tell the physician about immediately? What
strategies will lessen the side-effects normally associated with
the medication.
For more information about medications used to treat child and adolescent
brain disorders, you may want to contact J. Frueling at the Child
and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Information Center, University
of Wisconsin, Department of Psychiatry, B6-227CSC, 600 Highland
Ave., Madison, WI 53792-2475
(608/263-6171).
(The above article provided, compliment of
NAMI (National Association for the Mentally Ill)
Know When to Seek Help for Your Child
Parents are usually the first to recognize that their child has
a problem with emotions or behavior. Parents' growing concerns,
and observations of outside resources such as teachers and family
combine to form a process of coming to the realization that a child
can benefit from treatment. Parents may also consult with the child
and adolescent psychiatrist or other professionals about ways to
help their youngster at home. Following are a few signs which may
indicate that a child and adolescent psychiatric evaluation will
be useful.
YOUNGER CHILDREN
Marked fall in school performance. A lot of worry or anxiety,
as shown by regular refusal to go to school, go to sleep or take
part in activities that are normal for the child's age. Hyperactivity;
fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing. Persistent
nightmares. Persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than
6 months) and provocative opposition to authority figures. Frequent,
unexplainable temper tantrums.
PRE-ADOLESCENTS AND ADOLESCENTS
Marked change in school performance. Abuse of alcohol and/or
drugs. Inability to cope with problems and daily activities.
Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits. Many complaints
of physical ailments. Aggressive or non-aggressive consistent
violation of rights of others; opposition to authority, truancy,
thefts, vandalism. Intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship
to actual body weight. Depression shown by sustained, prolonged
negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite,
difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death. Frequent outbursts
of anger.
(The above article provided, compliment of
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
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