5 Things You Need to Know About Emotional Behavioral Disorders

1. Definition of an Emotional Behavioral Disorder

An emotional behavior disorder is characterized by one or more behaviors that alter a child's school performance. Emotional behavior disorder means a pattern of behaviors that may be aggressive, impulsive, withdrawn, unhappy or depressed, anxious, or include wide mood swings. Children with emotional behavior disorder have difficulty getting along with their peers, teachers, parents or other adults.

2. Diagnose an Emotional Behavior Disorder

Diagnosing an emotional behavior disorder can be a lengthy process. More than one behavior over a certain period of time must be exhibited to determine if a child has an emotional behavioral disorder. Behaviors and the time frame are established by a diagnostic manual called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the DSM IV published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Some behaviors to look for include: inability to learn in the school environment which cannot be explained by intellectual, health or sensory factors, inability to have relationships with peers, teachers or other adults in the child's life, inappropriate feelings or behaviors for situations that are normal circumstances, unhappy or depressed, develops fear or physical symptoms of personal or school problems.

3. Find Help

Talking with your child's school staff would be your first step. These individuals can give you insight as to how your child is performing and interacting in the classroom.

Contact your child's doctor for a complete medical assessment. Some medical issues may be masked as symptoms of an emotional behavioral disorder. A medical history will most likely be requested when consulting with a psychiatrist or psychologist.

A child adolescent psychiatrist is someone who specializes in mental health disorders for children. A psychiatrist is authorized to write prescriptions, if needed, and administer therapy. A psychologist can provide therapy. Another professional to consider consulting might be a pediatric neurologist. Discuss with your pediatrician if this would be an appropriate referral for him to make. A pediatric neurologist examines the nervous system looking for "faulty wiring."

4. Treat It

Treatment is a team effort and can be in many forms. Talk therapy, medication, parent education classes and behavior modification treatment plans are some of the options available for treatment. Your school's health staff, your child's doctor and you will be active participants in coming up with a treatment plan that outlines obtainable goals with time frames that are agreeable to everyone.

5. Seek Support

Working to manage your child's disorder can be challenging, not only for your child, but for you the caregiver as well. Locating support networks, publications and social groups to help you and your family cope will be essential to dealing with the disorder effectively. The Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (ccbd.net) offers information on various disorders, teacher resources, conferences and other information relevant to emotional behavioral disorders. Equally, ask your child's psychiatrist for a referral to a parental/caregiver support group and a peer social therapy group for your child. You will benefit from hearing other's stories and your child will recognize he is not alone in his struggles.