Children experience many of the same mental health issues as adults. Because children often cannot articulate that something is wrong, these problems may manifest as behavioral issues. According to Mental Health America, childhood mental health issues are prevalent in the United States. About 10 percent of children have anxiety disorders, 10 percent have conduct disorder, 5 to 10 percent have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, and around 3 percent suffer from depression.
Types
Common anxiety disorders in children include generalized anxiety disorder, severe phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Mood disorders include depression and bipolar or manic depression. Disorders causing behavioral issues include ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and general conduct disorder.
Symptoms
Symptoms of anxiety disorders include unfounded fearfulness, panic attacks, obsessive behaviors and constant worry. Mood disorders often manifest as extended periods of sadness, irritability and lack of interest in life. ADHD symptoms include trouble focusing, short attention span and disruptive hyperactivity. Other symptoms of emotional and behavioral problems include excessive anger, defiance, hatefulness, negativity and social withdrawal.
Effects
Childhood mental health disorders affect nearly every aspect of the child's life. Behavior problems may result in tension at home or punishment at school, compounding the child's feelings of anger or frustration. Often, a child's grades suffer because he is unable to focus on or is uninterested in his work. A child may suffer social effects because of his problem: he may lose interest in his friends or they may pull away because they do not understand his moods and behavior.
Considerations
Behavior problems are often a symptom of another problem. For example, children with an unidentified learning disability may feel frustrated in school, become disinterested and act out. Traumatic situations, such as experiencing or witnessing abuse, can also bring on behavioral problems. Mental and physical health evaluations can rule out other potential causes of the behavior issues.
Treatment
A physician or mental health professional can help you decide on the best treatment options for your child. Common types of treatment for emotional and behavioral problems in children include cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, family therapy and medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs.
