Recognition and Treatment of Mental Disorders in Children

Abstract

General healthcare systems currently play an active role in the identification and treatment of children with mental disorders. As many as one-third of children identified and treated for mental health problems receive outpatient mental healthcare from primary care providers. Although some children do receive treatment, over half of those who need mental health care do not receive this service. Fortunately, current levels of unmet need for adequate care coincide with mounting scientific evidence to support the efficacious use of psychosocial, community-based, and pharmacological interventions. Scientific evidence indicates that the appropriate identification and treatment of mental disorders in childhood can reduce symptoms of child psychopathology, improve adaptive functioning, and sometimes serve as a buffer to further long-term impairment. However, mental health treatment can only be beneficial if it reaches those families in need, is amenable to clinical practice implementation, and is administered with an adequate dose. Future challenges lie in creating practice-relevant efficacious interventions to improve the identification of child mental health needs and to improve access to high quality, appropriate mental healthcare. Primary care settings will play an important role in this activity. Although many barriers exist, pediatric health systems will continue to play an important role in the identification and treatment of mental disorders in children. The quality of current pediatric mental healthcare could be enhanced by increased opportunities for physician training, a restructuring of current training efforts, an increased focus on patient engagement strategies, equitable care incentives and reimbursement, as well as an integrated view of physical and mental health.

Family physicians' involvement and self-reported comfort and skill in care of children with behavioral and emotional problems: a population-based survey

“…To do so may require new educational strategies aimed at enhancing self-efficacy and capable of affecting attitudes and beliefs regarding mental health problems in children. In addition to these strategies, however, foundational changes in the way medical and support services are organized for care of children with psychosocial and mental health problems will also be required, given the barriers and challenges posed by financial and cultural factors, lack of access to specialized mental health services, and time and resource constraints within primary care [8,10,29]. …”

Depression, anxiety and stress among higher secondary school students of Imphal, Manipur

“…[234] Several areas of research show that the majority of adults suffering from mental disorders indicate that their symptoms began in childhood and adolescence. [567] Roberts and his colleagues[8] reported that the prevalence of mental disorders among children and adolescents range from 1% to 51% with a mean rate of 15.8% for adolescents. Depression is the fourth leading cause of all disease, accounting for 4.4% of total burden.…”

Barriers to the Identification and Management of Psychosocial Problems: Changes From 2004 to 2013

“…1, 2 However, despite increased recognition of these problems in pediatric primary care, 1, 3 the majority of youth with MH problems go undiagnosed and untreated. 1, 4 , 5 …”