Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses

Introduction to Disorders of Childhood

Children are precious; As parents we worry about their health. When our children have issues and crises, these issues and crises affect us just as much, if not more, than it affects them. We fear that which might bring them fear; we hurt when we see them hurt; and sometimes, we cry just seeing them cry. Writer Elizabeth Stone once said "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." So, when it seems like something is not quite right with your children - perhaps they seem more afraid than other kids, or they seem to get a lot angrier than their playmates do over certain things - this odd or "off" behavior can be experienced as terrifying. In fact, a child's difficulty can be just the starting point for your parental worry and concern. You might not know what to do to help your child, or where to go for help. Possibly, you may worry because you don't even know if your child's problem is somethi...More

Fast Facts: Learn! Fast!

What Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses can children be affected by?

Intellectual disabilities are a specific type of disability that is caused by limited mental capacity (intelligence). These limitations make it difficult for someone to care for themselves without additional support.
Children that appear to have extremely poor coordination that interferes with achievement or age-appropriate activities of daily living (e.g., walking, playing catch, etc) may be suffering from a Motor Skills Disorder.
Children or adolescents may be diagnosed with a Learning Disorder when their achievement on standardized tests in reading, mathematics, or written expression is significantly below what is expected for their age, schooling, or level of intelligence.
Communication Disorders are problems of childhood that affect learning, language, and/or speech.
A child who demonstrates severe and persistent difficulties in several areas of development (social interactions, language and communication, repetitive and stereotypical behavior) may be affected by a Pervasive Development Disorder.
Children who have chronic difficulties in maintaining attentional focus, completing work, being impulsive, or repeatedly engage in antisocial behaviors such as lying and cheating may have one or more Attention-Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders. The disorders in this category include Conduct Disorder, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
Disorders in the "Feeding and Eating Disorders of Infancy or Early Childhood" category include Pica, Rumination Disorder, and Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood.
Elimination disorders (Enuresis and Encopresis) occur when children who are otherwise old enough to eliminate waste appropriately repeatedly void feces or urine in inappropriate places or at inappropriate times.
Selective Mutism occurs when a child persistently fails to speak in certain social situations where speaking is expected.
Children and adolescents affected by Separation Anxiety Disorder become severely distressed when separated from their familiar surroundings and caregivers.
In Reactive Attachment Disorder, children develop abnormal relationships with caregivers that are described, in the language of the DSM criteria for the disorder as either Inhibited or Disinhibited.
Children with Stereotypic Movement Disorder can't seem to stop themselves from engaging in repetitive, and seeming nonfunctional motor behavior.
Tic Disorders are diagnosed when people have chronic (i.e., repeated across time) motor and vocal tics that interfere with their daily activities.

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News Articles

U.S. Pediatricians, Psychiatrists Declare 'Emergency' in Child Mental Health
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Preschoolers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rarely receive the gold-standard treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for their condition, a new study reports. More...
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Living within a few blocks of a shooting increases the risk that a child will end up visiting the emergency department for mental health-related problems, researchers say. More...
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Parents of a child with autism might wonder if a pet cat would be a good fit for the family. Now, research suggests both children with autism and cats benefit when a feline joins the household. More...
Only 1 in 10 Kids With ADHD Will Outgrow It
Only about one in 10 kids with the disorder are likely to have a full and lasting remission of their symptoms, according to new data gleaned from tracking hundreds of kids for 16 years. More...

13 More

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Telehealth is increasing in popularity in the United States, partly due to the pandemic. But some children with autism have difficulty sitting through these virtual appointments. More...
Online Therapy Works for Kids Battling Social Anxiety
The finding could pave the way for easier and cheaper access to an effective treatment for a common adolescent condition known as social anxiety disorder (SAD). More...
Parents' Input Key When Screening Toddlers for Autism
Early screening for autism can speed up diagnosis and treatment, and now new research shows that pediatricians are more likely to act when parents express concerns. More...
Eating Issues Common in People With Autism, and Girls Are More Susceptible
The study found that autistic traits predicted eating problems, but the link was more pronounced particularly among girls or women. These issues around eating might increase the risk of social isolation for females with autism, the researchers also found. More...
Pandemic Has Greatly Diminished Services for Kids, Adults With Autism
When the coronavirus pandemic hit, a number of services that people count on were put on hold -- unfortunately, this included therapeutic and educational services for those with autism, according to a new study. More...
Brain Study Suggests Autism Develops Differently in Girls Than Boys
Autism appears to develop differently in girls and boys, so the findings of research conducted mainly with boys might not apply to girls, a new study suggests. More...
Jail Dims Hopes for Recovery for Young People With Mental Illness
Being jailed puts teens with untreated psychiatric disorders at increased risk for long-term mental health struggles, researchers say. More...
More Kids With Autism May Be Doing Well Than Thought
School-age children with autism may be faring better than commonly thought, with most "doing well" in at least some aspects of development, a new study suggests. More...
Why Are Half of U.S. Kids With Mental Health Issues Not Getting Treatment?
Lack of treatment for kids who struggle with depression, anxiety and/or several adverse childhood experiences is more severe among children of parents with only high school-level educations and children of color, with Black kids found to be the least likely to have access to behavioral health services. More...
Lockdowns Are Leaving Kids With ADHD in Crisis
In a study published online Feb. 14 in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, Sibley and others looked at a group of 134 adolescents and young adults, and found they reported problems with social isolation, difficulties engaging in online learning, motivation issues and boredom that increased during the pandemic. More...
Mental Illness in Childhood Could Mean Worse Physical Health Decades Later
As if suffering from a mental illness as a child isn't tough enough, new research suggests it could predict higher odds for physical ills in later life. More...
Too Many Kids With Special Needs Are Going Without Adequate Support
As many as one in five U.S. children has special health care needs, and some of their caregivers are struggling to get them the support, care and services they need, new research shows. More...
Guideline Changes Have Asperger's Community on Edge
Change in psychiatric manual will fold it into autism spectrum disorders, leaving many unsure about getting needed services More...