Psychological Disorders in Children

Abstract
Psychological disorders are examined in children that vary in age and are from different backgrounds. Research suggests that there are various contributing factors that contribute to psychological disorders. Some include environmental and genetic influences. Specifically, there are psychological disorders found to exist in children that include depression, post-traumatic stress and anxiety disorders which were reviewed. Psychological disorders in children that were untreated lead to later adulthood problems such as below average performance in school, psychiatric hospitalizations, and incarceration. Genetic factors are also indicated as ones that contribute to psychological disorders; these factors specifically, have been attributed to the health of the mother and the use of drugs and alcohol during pregnancy. Environmental contributions that are reviewed include socioeconomic status, demographics, and traumatic events. Children that were exposed to both genetic and environmental factors showed a significant chance of developing psychological disorders as adults. Medication management and therapy have been useful in helping children to function in the home, school, as well as in the community. Psychological Disorders in Children with the Approach of Reporting Current Research Associated to how Genetics and Environmental Factors Contribute to Disorders. A psychological disorder, also known as a mental disorder, is a pattern of behavioral or psychological symptoms that impact multiple areas and/or create distress for the person experiencing these symptoms. Symptoms of psychological disorders in children have been neglected for years and today symptoms of psychological disorders are still overlooked by parents and teachers. Psychological disorders produce impairment in one and five percent of preteens who suffer from depression. (Feldman, 2011, pp. 280) Since children’s symptoms are not expressed in the exact same way as adults, it is more common that psychological disorders in children are overlooked or simply neglected . For many children childhood depression and other psychological disorders are still significant problems. Childhood psychological disorders must be taken seriously because those who are affected by psychological disorders as children are at greater risk for future disorders during adulthood in addition to developing into a disruptive child or adolescent. (Feldman, 2011, pp.280-281) Even though anti-depressant drugs have never been approved by governmental regulators for the use with children more than 10 million prescriptions were written for children under the age of 18 in 2002. Despite the fact that anti-depressant drugs have not been approved by governmental regulators it is legal for physicians to write prescriptions for children since the drugs have received approval for adult use (Feldman, 2011, pp.280). Professionals who believe that depression and other psychological disorders can be treated effectively using drug therapies. These professionals tend to be supporters of increased use of antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Wellbutrin for children. More traditional non drug therapies that largely employ verbal methods simply are ineffective. In these cases, only small forms of relief can be provided by drugs. The effectiveness of anti-depressants with children has been proven by at least on clinical test (Feldman, 2011, pp.280). However, critics contend that when it comes to children there is not much evidence for long-term effectiveness of anti-depressants. The fact that no one knows the consensus of the dosage of antidepressants of the developing brains of children, or the long-term consequences more generally is an even greater cause for alarm. When it comes to the correct dosage for children given ages or sizes, not much is known. Furthermore, some observers suggest that the use of special children’s versions of the drugs, in orange of mint flavored syrups, might lead to overdoses or perhaps eventually encourage the use of illegal drugs (Feldman, 2011, pp.280). There has been some evidence linking the use of anti-depressant medication with an increased risk of suicide. Although the link has not been firmly established, the U.S. Federal Drug Administration issued a warning about the use of a class of antidepressants know as SSRI’s in 2004. When it comes to the use of antidepressants in children and adolescents there have been some experts that urge that they should be banned completely (Feldman, 2011, pp.280). Although the use of anti-depressant drugs to treat children is controversial, what is clear is that childhood depression and other psychological disorders remain a significant problem with many children. Childhood psychological disorders must not be ignored. Not only are the disorders disruptive during childhood, but those who suffer from psychological disorders as children are at risk for future disorders during adulthood (Feldman, 2011, pp.280). There has been a dispute about whether the difficulties displayed in children are a unique consequence of the parent’s depression or a consequence of many parenting factors associated with it, given the persistent difficulties experienced by depressed parents in providing a healthy environment to raise their children. It has yet to be proven unequivocally whether children’s behavior and emotional issues are caused directly from environmental impacts of parental treatment or through some form of genetic mediation. Despite psychosocial theories stating that the risk that the children experience are environmental instead of genetic. Some researchers believe that certain aspects of the parental environment are indicators of genetic risk that is transmitted from parents to their offspring and are not really environmental. (Siberg & Maes, 2010). Children from homes with affectively ill parents are more likely to exhibit general functional impairments, increased guilt, and interpersonal difficulties which lead to negative mental health occurrences (Roustit & Campoy, 2010). Depression is a common psychological disorder that affects children of all ages, races and economical backgrounds. Children with depression display symptoms that persist for periods, from weeks to months. Depression in children has been attributed to genetic factors. In most cases in which a child displays depression parental or genetic influences have been assessed. It has been well established that a family history of depression is an important predictor of emotional and behavioral problems in children. (Siberg & Maes, 2010). Parental distress is associated with contributing to the result of depression in children. Studies have shown that parental distress is associated with the negative or disengaged interactions resulting in low self esteem and cognitions which lead to depressive reactions. (Campoy & Chauvin, 2010). Mental illnesses produce some of the most challenging health problems faced by society, accounting for vast numbers of hospitalizations, disabilities resulting in billions in loss productivity, and sharply elevated risk for suicide. Scientist have long known that these potentially devastating conditions arise from combinations of genes and environmental factors. Genetic research has produced intriguing biological insights into mental illness, showing that particular gene variations predispose some individuals to conditions such as depression and schizophrenia. Environment is a broadly based definition when referring to mental illnesses. Some suggest that it encompasses everything that isn’t an inherited gene. That’s a departure from traditional thinking in environmental health, however, which has historically viewed environmental threats in the context of infectious agents, pollutants, and other exogenous factors that influence the individual’s physical surroundings. Environmental threats to mental health include traditional parameters along with pharmaceutical and illicit drugs, injuries and nutritional deficiencies. Any number of circumstances for instance, sexual abuse, falling victim to crime, or the breakup of a relationship can produce psychosocial stress. But experts assume each of these circumstances triggers more primal reactions, such as feelings of loss or danger, which serve to push victims toward a particular mental state. Feelings of pure loss may lead to depressive disorder, while feelings of danger might lead to anxiety disorders. Either alone or in combination, psychosocial and physical stressors can interact with the genetic vulnerability to alter brain chemistry and thus alter individual’s mental health. Dysfunctional aspects in family life such as severe parental discord, a parent’s psychopathology or criminality, overcrowding, or large family size can predispose to conduct disorders and antisocial personality disorders, especially if the child does not have a loving relationship with at least one of the parents. Economic hardship can indirectly increase a child’s risk of developing a behavioral disorder because it may cause behavioral problems in parents. Economic hardship can indirectly increase a child’s risk of developing behavioral disorder because it may cause behavioral problems in the parents or increase the risk of child abuse. The quality of the relationship between infants or children and their primary caregiver, as manifested by the security of attachment, has long been felt to be of importance to mental health across the life span. One factor that is thought to play a role in how environmental factors contribute to psychological disorders is the child’s temperament and, in particular, the temperament factor of emotionality. Emotionality refers to emotional instability and there are clear indications that this temperament factor has genetic basis. Research has also shown that children and adolescents with high levels of emotionality are at greater risk for developing psychological disorders (Muris, 2006). The relationship between a child’s temperament and parenting style is complex it may be either protective if it is good or a risk factor if it is poor. Thus, a difficult child’s chances of developing mental health problems are much reduced if he or she grows up in a family in which there are clear rules and consistent enforcement while a child exposed to inconsistent discipline is at greater risk for later behavioral problems. When more associated factors, such as culture, are added, the shared variance between parental factors and psychological disorders will change according to the association between the culture and additional factors (Strud, 2010). Childhood psychological disorders have been attributed to the how children perform in school. Depression in children if left untreated, affect school performance and learning, social interactions and development of peer relationships, self esteem and life skill achievement, parent-child relations and a child’s sense of bonding and trust, can lead to substance abuse, disruptive behaviors, violence and aggression, legal troubles, and even suicide. Often children’s behavioral problems are only brought to professionals when they are obvious. An environmental factor such as maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy clearly causes brain damage, and the neuropsychological consequences are immense. In addition to the neurocognitive effects, prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with serious mental health problems including debilitating emotional and behavioral disorders (Green, 2007). Parental connectedness which have environmental components such as emotional, financial, and functional connectedness are also contributing factors to psychological disorders in children (Dwairy & Achoui, 2009). Maternal sensitivity and related attachment processes are particularly important role in human development (Crowell & Beauchaine, 2009). A multitude of studies indicate that anxiety disorders place individuals at greater risk for the development of mood and substance use disorders. All children experience anxiety as a part of their normal development. Children and youth experience different levels of anxiety, and cope with anxiety in more, or less effective ways. Anxiety becomes a problem when it prevents individuals from enjoying normal life for a long period of time. Numerous factors are believed to contribute to this phenomenon, including genetics and negative interactions that may occur between parents or between parent and child. Given that anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders tend to co-occur within an individual, it may also be the case they aggregate in families of anxious youth (Hughes & Furr, 2009). Several traumatic events can cause post traumatic stress disorder in children, such as violent crimes, abuse, and natural disasters. Maternal mental health has been evaluated as a mediator and moderator of the relation between child violence and psychological outcomes. Factors that increase the risk include the severity of the traumatic event, parental reaction to the event, and the physical closeness to the event. Several types of therapy are used to treat PTSD, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Adolescents whose mothers reported high levels of PTSD symptoms had more PTSD symptoms themselves as their community violence exposure increased (Spell & Kelly, 2008). Socioeconomic status is also associated with psychological disorders in children, with effects beginning prior to birth and continuing into adulthood. In low income countries, maternal competence in childcare is likely to have a greater role in a child’s physical well-being and is survival, especially in the first year of life, as the environment is often more hostile than in wealthy countries (Daniel, 2008). A variety of mechanisms linking socioeconomic status to child well-being have been assessed, with most involving differences in access to material and social resources or reactions to stress inducing conditions by the children themselves and their parents. For children, socioeconomic status impacts well-being at multiple levels, including both family and neighborhood. The higher the risk factors, the higher the prevalence of children with low social competence and behavioral problems. Nationally, an estimated two-thirds of all young people are not getting the mental health treatment they need. Many children and youth do not have their mental health needs identified until they enter the juvenile probation or child welfare systems. Aggressive, acting out and delinquent behaviors are frequently the result of mental disturbances for children entering local juvenile probation programs. Nationally, it has been estimated; that 43% to 70% of abused and neglected children entering child welfare systems have mental health problems severe enough to warrant treatment. In addition an estimated 60% of teenagers in juvenile detention have behavioral, mental, or emotional disorders. Hospitalization for children with psychological disorders is often needed; medication management and outpatient therapy are available in these settings. Inpatient hospitalization for the treatment of mental illnesses is generally limited to children who are unsafe or acutely disturbed, who require skilled observation and assessment throughout the day, or who need rapid intervention during crisis situations. Studies have shown that boys hospitalization for mental illness outnumbered girls and the common primary diagnosis for those hospitalizations included attention- deficit disorder, adjustment disorder, conduct disorder and emotional disorders. Environmental and genetic factors are associated with psychological disorders; in children however, culture also has a huge impact on disorders. Depression is the most common psychological disorder in children, environmental and genetic factors play a large part in the development of disorders. Children who have experienced psychological disorders as children have a greater risk of having them as adults. Genetic influences through the use of alcohol and drug consumption by the mother during pregnancy contributes to psychological disorders. Children that are exposed to traumatic events present with an increase risk of forming disorders, such as post traumatic stress disorder. Socioeconomic status and the environment in which a child is in can contribute to behavioral problems. Hospitalization is needed for children that present with crisis in which immediate intervention is needed. Juvenile involvement can be correlated to environmental factors which produce behavioral problems.

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