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Child psychopathology is the study of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. Mental health providers, social workers, pediatricians, and teachers can benefit from education and training in this field. Researchers examine mood, anxiety, and developmental disorders to develop effective diagnostic criteria and treatment recommendations. Parenting and school experiences can also impact a child’s psychological development. In complex cases, a specialist may be needed for effective treatment.
Child psychopathology is the study of psychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence. Mental health providers who work with children specialize in this field so they can offer the best care to their patients. It can also be a topic of interest to social workers, pediatricians, teachers, and other professionals who may need to work with mentally ill children throughout their careers. Formal education and training is available to provide people with information they can use to apply the precepts of child psychopathology to patient care.
There are a number of psychiatric conditions that can manifest in childhood as well as adulthood, for a variety of reasons. Some appear to be related to the environment; a neglected or abused child, for example, may have psychological complications. Others may be genetic in nature, as seen with children who develop early-onset bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, conditions that are normally rare in children.
Researchers in this field examine mood, anxiety, and developmental disorders that can arise during childhood to develop effective diagnostic criteria and treatment recommendations for healthcare professionals. They may also be interested in determining why these conditions occur. Early screening could provide interventions for children showing early signs of mental health problems to get them timely and effective treatment. For example, researchers in child psychopathology note that behaviors such as inattention, difficulty concentrating, or disobedience may not be character defects, but rather signs of an underlying psychiatric or developmental problem such as attention deficit disorder.
Parenting can be an important factor in child psychology, as parents have a profound impact on a child’s environment. The survey of common psychological problems experienced by children provides more insight into the extent to which the environment affects a child’s psychological development and how parents can contribute to healthy growth and development. Factors such as school experiences also play a role; child psychopathology includes the study of bullying, both among bullies and victims.
Understanding child psychopathology can help health care providers select and treat their patients effectively. In complex cases or where serious and disabling conditions are involved, the patient may need to consult a specialist. Some children, for example, become extremely violent and may not be safe in their homes or schools until their conditions are effectively managed. They may need to attend schools and facilities designed specifically for children with severe and pervasive mental illness to receive treatment.
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