A significant amount of children experience emotional problems that often result in psychiatric diagnoses and treatment. A combination of reasons factor in to the development of emotion based disorders such as family environment, genetics and daily stress. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, SAMHSA, recognizes that as many as one in five children may have a mental health disorder that causes problems in behavior and emotional disturbance. Severe emotional disturbance is long-standing and may impact thinking, mood and behavior. Depending on the type of emotional problem present, treatment is available through psychotherapy and medication intervention.
Conduct Disorder
Children with conduct disorder often display extremes in negative behavior and aggression toward others. This disorder is characterized by the child having difficulty following the norms of society and misbehaving against the rules of the family home. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry notes the emotional problems significant in this disorder often lead to the child intimidating others, initiating fights and lacking the depth of sincere understanding about how his behavior will impact others. Conduct disorder commonly co-occurs with other mental health problems such as ADHD or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Depression
Depression can occur at any age and in children, it severely impacts emotional well-being. SAMHSA notes that children with depression often show increased sadness, verbalize feeling worthless and cry more than normal. It is common for children to display changes in sleep pattern or appetite when experiencing depression. Issues that impact childhood depression might include low self esteem, feeling left out or having low motivation for a bright future. Depression in children can worsen if untreated and physician consultation may offer solutions for helping the child manage the symptoms.
Bipolar and ADHD
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health Disorders of 1994 does not allow for bipolar diagnosis of children. However, in recent years pediatrics has recognized that children do display symptoms of this disorder and can be treated for these symptoms. The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation indicates that some children display irritability, rapid cycling of moods and hyperactivity signifying this disorder. In childhood, bipolar disorder and ADHD may share similar symptom characteristics so further evaluation is suggested to provide the appropriate course of treatment. Signs of ADHD often include; irritable behavior, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Anxiety and Emotions
Children with anxiety problems display excessive fear, worry and odd thought patterns. Anxiety disorders are the most prominent in childhood according to SAMHSA, and there are a variety of specific anxiety disorders that affect kids. Phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder are most common. Children with phobias might have an unrealistic fear of people, places or objects. Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children causes a feeling of being trapped and out of control of the environment. Both types of anxiety disorder lead to severe emotional strains, moodiness and bizarre behavior such as avoiding places or excessive hand washing.
