Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Is my child normal?
Is my child normal?
Most parents naturally recognize whether their child or teenager is behaving and developing 'normally.' Generally, a child or teenager is developing normally if he or she is involved in and enjoys the following:
Most parents naturally recognize whether their child or teenager is behaving and developing 'normally.' Generally, a child or teenager is developing normally if he or she is involved in and enjoys the following:
-class learning and activities
-class learning and activities
-relationships with family and friends
-relationships with family and friends
-playing
-playing
Most parents, at some time or another, worry whether their child is normal or not based on certain changes in that child's development, behavior or emotions. It may be reassuring to know that a child's concerning behavior is more often a reaction to changes in some family or social condition, rather than a disorder within the child. However, at times changes in the behavior of children and teens may be so disruptive that they risk the health and normal functioning of the child or family. At times like these, parents may benefit from partnering with a professional to guide them and obtaining the necessary treatment for their child or teenager.
Most parents, at some time or another, worry whether their child is normal or not based on certain changes in that child's development, behavior or emotions. It may be reassuring to know that a child's concerning behavior is more often a reaction to changes in some family or social condition, rather than a disorder within the child. However, at times changes in the behavior of children and teens may be so disruptive that they risk the health and normal functioning of the child or family. At times like these, parents may benefit from partnering with a professional to guide them and obtaining the necessary treatment for their child or teenager.
What is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist?
What is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist?
A Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of thought, feeling and behavior affecting children, adolescents and families. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists offer patients their expertise developed through many years of medical education and intensive therapy training.
A Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of thought, feeling and behavior affecting children, adolescents and families. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists offer patients their expertise developed through many years of medical education and intensive therapy training.
When is it time to see a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist?
When is it time to see a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist?
A Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist can answer questions and address concerns about what is normal and what is not in a particular child. Factors such as personality, developmental stage and external influences are thoroughly considered. The following behaviors should prompt consideration for further evaluation by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist or Child Therapist:
A Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist can answer questions and address concerns about what is normal and what is not in a particular child. Factors such as personality, developmental stage and external influences are thoroughly considered. The following behaviors should prompt consideration for further evaluation by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist or Child Therapist:
Younger Children
Younger Children
-Hyperactivity; fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing
-Hyperactivity; fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing
-Recurrent nightmares
-Recurrent nightmares
-Persistent disobedience, aggression, or oppositionality towards authority figures (e.g., parents, teachers)
-Persistent disobedience, aggression, or oppositionality towards authority figures (e.g., parents, teachers)
-Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums
-Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums
-School Refusal
-School Refusal
-Unexplained and repeated stomach complaints
-Unexplained and repeated stomach complaints
-Social Isolation
-Social Isolation
-Disordered eating or sleep patterns
-Disordered eating or sleep patterns
-Self Injury
-Self Injury
Adolescents
Adolescents
-Marked change in school performance
-Marked change in school performance
-Inability to cope with problems
-Inability to cope with problems
-Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
-Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
-Frequent physical complaints
-Frequent physical complaints
-Sexual indiscretions
-Sexual indiscretions
-Prolonged negative mood and attitude, usually accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death
-Prolonged negative mood and attitude, usually accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death
-Recurrent nightmares
-Recurrent nightmares
-Thoughts of causing harm to oneself or others
-Thoughts of causing harm to oneself or others
-Self destructive behavior and habits (e.g., smoking, alcohol or drug abuse)
-Self destructive behavior and habits (e.g., smoking, alcohol or drug abuse)
-Frequent outbursts of anger and aggression
-Frequent outbursts of anger and aggression
-Threats to run away
-Threats to run away
-Aggressive or non-aggressive violation of the rights of others
-Aggressive or non-aggressive violation of the rights of others
-Opposition to authority, skipping school, thefts or vandalism
-Opposition to authority, skipping school, thefts or vandalism
-Strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviors
-Strange thoughts, beliefs, feelings, or unusual behaviors
-Actual self harm
-Actual self harm
What training does a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist have?
What training does a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist have?
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric training requires 4 years of medical school. After medical school a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist is required to have at least 3 years of of approved Psychiatry Residency training that includes Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry followed by 2 years of additional specialized training in psychiatric care of children, adolescents and their families in an accredited Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. Ultimately, this yields a total of at least 9 years of study and specialized practice after an undergraduate degree.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric training requires 4 years of medical school. After medical school a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist is required to have at least 3 years of of approved Psychiatry Residency training that includes Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry followed by 2 years of additional specialized training in psychiatric care of children, adolescents and their families in an accredited Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship. Ultimately, this yields a total of at least 9 years of study and specialized practice after an undergraduate degree.
In the General Psychiatry training years, the physician becomes competent in the fundamentals of the theory and practice of psychiatry. In the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, the physician acquires a thorough knowledge of normal child and family development. Recognition and treatment of abnormal development is then mastered. Special emphasis is given to disorders that appear in childhood, such as pervasive developmental disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual developmental disorders, mood disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders, drug dependency and/or delinquency (e.g., conduct disorder). The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship is designed to provide treatment of a full spectrum of illnesses from what may appear to be relatively benign disruptions in behavior to some of the most difficult cases. Active partnership with other specialists, including therapists and pediatricians, make the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist the cornerstone of effective and comprehensive care for your troubled child or adolescent.
In the General Psychiatry training years, the physician becomes competent in the fundamentals of the theory and practice of psychiatry. In the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, the physician acquires a thorough knowledge of normal child and family development. Recognition and treatment of abnormal development is then mastered. Special emphasis is given to disorders that appear in childhood, such as pervasive developmental disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual developmental disorders, mood disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders, drug dependency and/or delinquency (e.g., conduct disorder). The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship is designed to provide treatment of a full spectrum of illnesses from what may appear to be relatively benign disruptions in behavior to some of the most difficult cases. Active partnership with other specialists, including therapists and pediatricians, make the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist the cornerstone of effective and comprehensive care for your troubled child or adolescent.