DISORDERS COMMONLY DIAGNOSED IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Attention-Deficit Asperger's Disorder Hyperactivity Disorder Autism (ADHD)

Symptoms · Extreme difficulty in social · Inattention, impulsive, and · Delay or total lack in the interactions. hyperactivity are three types of development of social behaviors and indicators. interaction and · Repetitive and restricted communication skills. May patterns of behavior, · Becoming easily distracted, rarely repeat words or phrases they interests, and activities such following instructions, and losing have heard or misuse as movements with hands, and forgetting things are signs of pronouns and invent new fingers, or whole-body. inattention. words.

· No delay in the development · Fidgeting, squirming, blurting out · Continual use of nonverbal of language. answers, and having difficulty behaviors, such as eye-to- waiting in line for a turn are signs of eye gaze, facial expressions, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. and body postures and gestures.

· Little or no interest in making friends or social play.

Evidenced · Depending on the severity of · See Behavioral Therapy (BT) on · Treatment program that involve parents, builds on the -based the child's symptoms and Page 5. behaviors, combinations of child's interests, offers a Treatment treatment methods that · A combination of medication, predictable schedule, involve individual and family specifically stimulants, and teaches tasks as a series of therapy and medication are behavioral therapy has been found simple steps, actively often used. There is little to be the most effective treatment engages the child's attention evidence to show that any choice. in highly structured activities, one treatment is better than and provides regular another. · Stimulants: A class of medications, reinforcement of behavior, Ritalin, Adderal, Dexedrine, and appear to produce the Cylert are all stimulants that greatly greatest gains. reduce the child's hyperactivity and improve their ability to focus, work, · No medication can yet correct and learn. the brain structures or impaired nerve connections that seems to underlie autism. However, some medications have been found to be effective in reducing the child's behaviors that make it hard to function.

· Very intensive behavioral therapy has been found to be helpful in decreasing negative behaviors; and for some children, returning them to more normal function. Disorders Commonly Diagnosed in Children and Adolescents Page 2

Bipolar Disorder Conduct Disorder Dysthymia

Symptoms · Extreme mood swings from · Frequent Temper Tantrums, · A milder, more chronic form high to low. The high state is aggressive towards people and/or of depression. Only the lows called mania or hypomania in animals, violate the rights or others are experienced and rarely which the child's speech is by stealing or engaging in the highs. Usually one does rapid, behavior is impulsive or vandalism. not attach pleasure to things reckless, irritability, and racing that should make them thought process. happy.

· The low state is called depression in which the child has difficulty concentrating, sleeping, changes is appetite, decreased energy, and a feeling of hopelessness.

Evidenced · Treatments have not yet been · Considered one of the most difficult · See Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Page 3. -based well tested for use in children diagnoses to treat, so there is not and adolescents. one medication or therapy of Treatment choice. · See Selective Serotonin Psychotherapy and Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Psychoeducation · Often a child with conduct disorder on Page 3. has another diagnosis, for example · Involves talking between the ADHD, so the therapist would begin child and therapist to bring treatment with a medication and/or about change in the child's therapy that is effective in reducing behavior in managing the ADHD symptoms. condition. · When ADHD is not present, Ritalin · Educating the child and family or Lithium may still be used to on warning signs of mania reduce the child's negative and managing the episodes. behavior.

Medication · Behavioral Therapy (Page 5), depending on the age of the child, · Lithium has been found to be can be effective. effective in treating manic and depressive symptoms. · Parent training and videotape modeling parent training have also · Depakote and Tegretol have been found to be effective in helping been found to be effective for parents in managing their child's young adults and may be behavior. useful for children.

· Other medications may have a role in the treatment for children and adolescents. Disorders Commonly Diagnosed in Children and Adolescents Page 3

Generalized Anxiety Obsessive-Compulsive Major Depression Disorder Disorder (OCD)

Symptoms · Constant worrying about · Feelings of hopelessness, · Repeated, unwanted normal everyday activities. helplessness, worthlessness, obsessive thoughts, for inability to concentrate, irritability, example, children may · Always expecting the worse change in appetite, change in sleep demand that things be done even though there is no pattern and loss of energy are a certain way or that reason to think this way. signs. questions be answered over and over again. · Complains of physical problems like headache, · Compulsive behaviors that nausea, tiredness, or muscle seem impossible to stop like ache. constantly washing their hands, touching, counting, or checking things.

Evidenced Cognitive Behavioral Interpersonal Therapy Selective Serotonin -based Therapy (CBT) Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) · A short-form of psychotherapy that Treatment · Teaches the child to control involves the child self-evaluating · A category of several both their behavior and their own interaction with others. medications, Prozac, Zoloft, thoughts in situations that Paxil, and Luvox are SSRIs. cause anxiety. · Emphasis is placed on the child's current social development by · Zoloft, Paxil, and Luvox are · Works best for older children focusing on any self-imposed the only SSRIs that have and adolescents because it isolation. been approved for the Food requires that the child talk and Drug Administration about their thoughts and · CBT and Selective Serotonin (FDA) for use in children. feelings. Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have also been found to be effective. · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is being tested. Disorders Commonly Diagnosed in Children and Adolescents Page 4

Oppositional Defiant Post Traumatic Panic Disorder Disorder (ODD) Stress Disorder

Symptoms · Extreme levels of · Repeated occurrences of intense · After experiencing a argumentativeness , fear that happen often without traumatic event such as child disobedience, stubbornness, warning. abuse, rape, or natural negativity, and aggravation of disasters, recurring others are signs. ODD is · Physical signs of a panic attack nightmares, flashbacks, often a precursor to conduct include chest pain, heart emotional numbness, disorder. palpation's, shortness of breath, depression, anger, irritability, dizziness, and stomach pain. and being easily startled are indicators.

Evidenced · See Behavioral Therapy (BT) · See Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -based on Page 5. (CBT) on Page 3. · See Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on Page 3. Treatment · Certain forms of group therapy that use behavioral therapy techniques have shown benefits. Disorders Commonly Diagnosed in Children and Adolescents Page 5

Separation Anxiety Social Phobia Specific Phobia Disorder

Symptoms · Extreme distress when away · Extreme fear of embarrassment or · Extreme fear of something from parents at school, humiliation in social situations that that has little or no actual bedtime, or if they have to go leads to the avoidance of dangers that leads to away overnight. pleasurable activities. avoidance of objects or situations. · Physical signs are · Crying, tantrums, freezing, or stomachaches, diarrhea, clinging are associated behaviors. · Crying, tantrums, freezing, or dizziness, and rapid clinging are associated heartbeat. Also, recurring behaviors. nightmares that something bad is happening to the family is another indicator.

Evidenced · See Cognitive Behavioral · See Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Behavioral Therapy (BT) -based Therapy (CBT) on Page 3. (CBT) on Page 3. · Focuses on figuring out ways Treatment · See Selective Serotonin for the child to change his or Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) her behavior by using a goal- on Page 3. oriented system, often with small rewards.

· Positive and negative reinforcement is usually an important part of the therapy.

· A reward system may be set up that includes mild punishments, such as the loss of certain privileges to help motivate the child to change his or her behavior.