What symptoms do mental children have? Mental illnesses in children. Isolated delays in skill development

Mental disorders of early childhood (the first 3 years of life) have been studied relatively recently and have not been sufficiently studied, which is largely due to the particular complexity of assessing the early childhood psyche, its immaturity, the abortive nature of manifestations, and the difficulties in distinguishing between normal and pathological conditions. A significant contribution to the development of this area of ​​child psychiatry was made by the works of G.K. Ushakov, O.P. Parte (Yuryeva), G.V. Kozlovskaya, A.V. Goryunova. It has been shown that in young children, starting from infancy, a wide range of mental disorders (emotional, behavioral, mental development, speech, motor, psychovegetative, paroxysmal, etc.) are epidemiologically detected at the borderline and psychotic level in the form of reactions, phases and procedural disorders. Their frequency differs slightly from the prevalence in adults. According to G.V. Kozlovskaya, the prevalence of mental pathology (morbidity) in children under 3 years of age was 9.6%, mental morbidity - 2.1%. The accumulated knowledge about mental pathology in young children gives reason to consider micropsychiatry (in the terminology of the famous child psychiatrist T.P. Simeon) as an independent field of child psychiatry.

Psychopathology of early childhood has a number of characteristic features: polymorphism and rudimentary symptoms; a combination of psychopathological symptoms with certain forms of impaired development of mental functions; close cohesion of mental disorders with neurological ones; coexistence of the initial and final manifestations of the disease.

Emotional disorders

A decrease in general emotionality at an early age can be manifested by the absence of a complex of revival, a smile at the sight of those caring for him; comfort in the arms of loved ones; reactions of dissatisfaction to untimely feeding, failure to provide proper care. Decreased mood is often accompanied by disturbances in appetite, sleep, general malaise, discomfort and often complaints of abdominal pain. The first years of life are characterized by anaclitic depression that occurs during separation from the mother: the child often cries, does not gurgle, does not take the breast actively enough, lags behind in weight gain, is prone to frequent regurgitation and other manifestations of dyspepsia, is susceptible to respiratory infections, turns away from the wall, and reacts sluggishly to food. toys, does not show positive emotions when familiar faces appear.

Preschoolers often have complaints of boredom, laziness, and decreased mood, accompanied by passivity, slowness, and psychopathic behavior. Increased emotions in the form of hypomania or euphoria are usually manifested by motor hyperactivity and often a decrease in sleep duration, early rising and increased appetite. There are also such emotional disturbances as emotional monotony, dullness and even emasculation as a manifestation of an emotional defect. There are also changes in mixed emotions.

Marked loss of appetite in infants and young children it occurs with sudden changes in usual living conditions with periodic refusal to eat and vomiting. Older children are known to have monotonous food preferences that persist for a long time (they eat only ice cream or mashed potatoes for a number of years 3 times a day), persistent avoidance of meat products or eating inedible things (for example, foam balls).

Psychomotor development delay or its unevenness (delayed or asynchronous mental development) may be nonspecific (benign), manifested by a delay in the formation of motor, mental and speech functions at any age stage without the appearance of pathological syndromes. This type of delay is not associated with brain damage and can be easily corrected. It is compensated with age under favorable environmental conditions without treatment.

With a specific delay in psychomotor development, disturbances in the development of motor, mental and speech functions associated with damage to brain structures manifest themselves as pathological syndromes and are not compensated for independently. Specific delay in psychomotor development can occur as a result of exposure to hypoxic-ischemic, traumatic, infectious and toxic factors, metabolic disorders, hereditary diseases, and early onset of the schizophrenic process. At first, a specific delay in psychomotor development may be partial, but later a total (generalized) delay in psychomotor development usually develops with uniform impairment of motor, mental and speech functions.

Characterized by increased general nervousness with excessive excitability, a tendency to flinch, irritability, intolerance to sharp sounds and bright light, increased fatigue, easily occurring mood swings with a predominance of hypothymic reactions, tearfulness and anxiety. With any stress, lethargy and passivity or restlessness and fussiness easily occur.

Fear darkness often occurs in young children, especially nervous and impressionable ones. It usually occurs during night sleep and is accompanied by nightmares. If episodes of fear are repeated with a certain frequency, come suddenly, during them the child screams desperately, does not recognize loved ones, then suddenly falls asleep, and when he wakes up, does not remember anything, then in this case it is necessary to exclude epilepsy.

Daytime Fears very diverse. This is the fear of animals, fairy tale and cartoon characters, loneliness and crowds, subways and cars, lightning and water, changes in familiar surroundings and any new people, visiting preschool institutions, corporal punishment, etc. The more fanciful, ridiculous, fantastic and autistic the fears, the more suspicious they are in terms of their endogenous origin.

Pathological habits sometimes dictated by pathological desires. This is a persistent desire to bite nails (onychophagia), suck a finger, pacifier or tip of a blanket, pillow, rock while sitting on a chair or in bed before going to bed (yactation), and irritate the genitals. The pathology of drives can also be expressed in persistent eating of inedible things, toys, or sucking a dirty finger stained with feces. In more pronounced cases, a violation of drives manifests itself in the form of auto- or hetero-aggression already from infancy, for example, in a persistent desire to bang one’s head on the edge of the crib or in constant biting of the mother’s breast. These children often have a need to torture insects or animals, aggression and sexual games with toys, a desire for everything dirty, disgusting, foul-smelling, dead, etc.

Early increased sexuality may consist in the desire to voyeurism, the desire to touch intimate parts of people of the opposite sex. To assess the mental state of young children, features of play activity are indicative, for example, a tendency to stereotypical, strange or autistic games or games with household objects. Children can spend hours sorting or transferring onions or buttons from one container to another, tear pieces of paper into small pieces and put them into piles, rustle papers, play with a stream of water or pour water from one glass to another, build a train out of shoes many times, make a tower of pots, weave and tie knots on strings, roll the same car back and forth, place only soft bunnies of different sizes and colors around you. A special group consists of games with imaginary characters, and then they are closely associated with pathological fantasies. In this case, children leave food or milk “for the dinosaurs” in the kitchen or put candy and a soft cloth “for the gnome” on the nightstand near the bed.

Excessive tendency to fantasize possible starting from one year and is accompanied by vivid but fragmentary figurative ideas. It is distinguished by its special intensity, difficulty returning to reality, persistence, fixation on the same characters or themes, autistic workload, lack of desire to tell parents about them in free time, transformation not only into living, but also into inanimate objects (a gate, a house , flashlight), combination with ridiculous collecting (for example, bird excrement, dirty plastic bags).

Due to special factors, be it a difficult family atmosphere, genetic predisposition or traumatic brain injury, various mental disorders may occur. When a child comes into the world, it is impossible to understand whether he is mentally healthy or not. Physically, such children are no different. Violations appear later.

Mental disorders in children are divided into 4 large classes:

1) Mental retardation;

2) Developmental delays;

3) Attention deficit disorder;

4) Autism in early childhood.

Mental retardation. Developmental delay

The first type of mental disorder in children is oligophrenia. The child’s psyche is underdeveloped and there is an intellectual defect. Symptoms:

• Impaired perception and voluntary attention.
• The vocabulary is narrowed, speech is simplified and defective.
• Children are driven by their environment, not by their motivations and desires.

There are several stages of development depending on IQ: mild, moderate, severe and deep. Basically, they differ only in the severity of symptoms.

The causes of such a mental disorder are a pathology of the chromosome set, or trauma before birth, during childbirth or early in life. Maybe because the mother drank alcohol during pregnancy and smoked. Mental retardation can also be caused by infection, falls and injuries to the mother, and difficult childbirth.

Developmental delays (DD) are expressed in impaired cognitive activity, immaturity of the individual compared to healthy peers and a slow pace of mental development. Types of ZPR:

1) Mentally infantilism. The psyche is underdeveloped, behavior is guided by emotions and games, the will is weak;

2) Delays in the development of speech, reading, and counting;

3) Other violations.

The child lags behind his peers and learns information more slowly. The ZPR can be adjusted, the most important thing is that teachers and educators are aware of the problem. A child with a delay needs more time to learn something, however, with the right approach it is possible.

Attention deficit disorder. Autism

Mental disorders in children can take the form of attention deficit disorder. This syndrome is expressed in the fact that the child concentrates very poorly on a task and cannot force himself to do one thing for a long time and to the end. Often this syndrome is accompanied by hyperreactivity.

Symptoms:

• The child does not sit still, constantly wants to run somewhere or start doing something else, and is easily distracted.
• If he plays something, he can't wait for his turn to come. Can only play active games.
• He talks a lot, but never listens to what they say to him. Moves a lot.

• Heredity.
• Trauma during childbirth.
• Infection or virus, drinking alcohol while pregnant.

There are various ways to treat and correct this disease. It can be treated with medication, it can be treated psychologically - with training. child to cope with his impulses.

Autism in early childhood is divided into the following types:

- autism, in which the child is unable to communicate with other children and adults, never makes eye contact and tries not to touch people;

- stereotypes in behavior when a child protests against the most minor changes in his life and the world around him;

- speech development disorder. He does not need speech for communication - the child can speak well and correctly, but cannot communicate.

There are other disorders that can affect children of different ages. For example, manic states, Tourette's syndrome and many others. However, they all occur in adults. The disorders listed above are typical specifically for childhood.

Have you noticed mental disorders in children? Do you want to know more detailed information or do you need an inspection? You can make an appointment with a doctor - the Eurolab clinic is always at your service! The best doctors will examine you, study external signs and help you identify the disease by symptoms, advise you and provide the necessary assistance. You can also call a doctor at home. The Eurolab clinic is open for you around the clock.

Phone number of our clinic in Kyiv: (+3 (multi-channel). The clinic secretary will select a convenient day and time for you to visit the doctor. Our coordinates and directions are listed here. Look in more detail about all the clinic’s services on its personal page.

If you have previously performed any tests, be sure to take their results to a consultation with your doctor. If the studies have not been performed, we will do everything necessary in our clinic or with our colleagues in other clinics.

Is your child's mental state impaired? It is necessary to take a very careful approach to your overall health. People do not pay enough attention to the symptoms of diseases and do not realize that these diseases can be life-threatening. There are many diseases that at first do not manifest themselves in our body, but in the end it turns out that, unfortunately, it is too late to treat them. Each disease has its own specific signs, characteristic external manifestations - the so-called symptoms of the disease. Identifying symptoms is the first step in diagnosing diseases in general. To do this, you simply need to be examined by a doctor several times a year in order not only to prevent a terrible disease, but also to maintain a healthy spirit in the body and the organism as a whole.

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How not to miss a mental disorder in a child and what to do in these cases

The concept of mental disorder in children can be quite difficult to explain, let alone define, especially on your own. Parents' knowledge is usually not enough for this. As a result, many children who could benefit from treatment do not receive the help they need. This article will help parents learn to identify warning signs of mental illness in children and highlight some options for help.

Why is it difficult for parents to determine the state of mind of their child?

Unfortunately, many adults are unaware of the signs and symptoms of mental illness in children. Even if parents know the basic principles of recognizing serious mental disorders, they often have difficulty recognizing mild signs of abnormal behavior in their children. And the child sometimes does not have enough vocabulary or intellectual baggage to explain his problems verbally.

Concerns about stereotypes associated with mental illness, the cost of using certain medications, and the logistical complexity of possible treatment often delay treatment or force parents to attribute their child's condition to some simple and temporary phenomenon. However, a psychopathological disorder that is beginning to develop cannot be restrained by anything other than proper, and most importantly, timely treatment.

The concept of mental disorder, its manifestation in children

Children can suffer from the same mental illnesses as adults, but they manifest them in different ways. For example, depressed children often show more signs of irritability than adults, who tend to be more sad.

Children most often suffer from a number of diseases, including acute or chronic mental disorders:

Children suffering from anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder show strong signs of anxiety, which is a persistent problem that interferes with their daily activities.

Sometimes anxiety is a traditional part of every child's experience, often moving from one developmental stage to the next. However, when stress takes an active role, it becomes difficult for the child. It is in such cases that symptomatic treatment is indicated.

• Attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder.

This disorder typically includes three categories of symptoms: difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Some children with this condition have symptoms of all categories, while others may have only one sign.

This pathology is a serious developmental disorder that manifests itself in early childhood - usually before the age of 3 years. Although symptoms and their severity are prone to change, the disorder always affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Eating disorders - such as anorexia, bulimia and gluttony - are quite serious illnesses that threaten the life of a child. Children can become so preoccupied with food and their weight that it prevents them from focusing on anything else.

Affect disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder can lead to persistent feelings of sadness or mood swings that are much more severe than the usual variability common in many people.

This chronic mental illness causes the child to lose touch with reality. Schizophrenia most often appears in late adolescence, from about 20 years of age.

Depending on the child's condition, illnesses can be classified as temporary mental disorders or permanent ones.

Main signs of mental illness in children

Some markers that a child may have mental health problems are:

Mood changes. Look for dominant signs of sadness or melancholy that last for at least two weeks, or severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships at home or at school.

Too strong emotions. Acute emotions of overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes combined with tachycardia or rapid breathing, are a serious reason to pay attention to your child.

Uncharacteristic behavior. This may include sudden changes in behavior or self-image, as well as dangerous or out of control actions. Frequent fights with the use of third-party objects, a strong desire to harm others are also warning signs.

Difficulty concentrating. The characteristic manifestation of such signs is very clearly visible at the time of preparing homework. It is also worth paying attention to teachers’ complaints and current school performance.

Unexplained weight loss. Sudden loss of appetite, frequent vomiting, or use of laxatives may indicate an eating disorder;

Physical symptoms. Compared to adults, children with mental health problems may often complain of headaches and stomach pains rather than sadness or anxiety.

Physical damage. Sometimes mental health conditions lead to self-injury, also called self-harm. Children often choose far inhumane methods for these purposes - they often cut themselves or set themselves on fire. Such children also often develop thoughts of suicide and attempts to actually commit suicide.

Substance abuse. Some children use drugs or alcohol to try to cope with their feelings.

Actions of parents if a child is suspected of having mental disorders

If parents are truly concerned about their child's mental health, they should contact a professional as soon as possible.

The clinician should describe the present behavior in detail, focusing on the most striking discrepancies with the earlier period. For more information, before visiting a doctor, it is recommended to talk with school teachers, class teacher, close friends or other people who spend any long time with the child. As a rule, this approach is very helpful in making up your mind and discovering something new, something that a child would never show at home. We must remember that there should be no secrets from the doctor. And yet, there is no panacea in the form of pills for mental disorders.

General actions of specialists

Mental health conditions in children are diagnosed and treated on the basis of signs and symptoms, taking into account the impact of psychological or mental health problems on the child's daily life. This approach also allows us to determine the types of mental disorders of the child. There are no simple, unique or 100% guaranteed positive tests. To make a diagnosis, the doctor may recommend the presence of related professionals, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse, mental health educators, or behavioral therapist.

The doctor or other professionals will work with the child, usually on an individual basis, to determine first whether the child is truly abnormal based on diagnostic criteria or not. For comparison, special databases of child psychological and mental symptoms are used, which are used by specialists all over the world.

In addition, the doctor or other mental health provider will look for other possible reasons to explain the child's behavior, such as a history of previous illness or trauma, including family history.

It is worth noting that diagnosing childhood mental disorders can be quite difficult, since expressing their emotions and feelings correctly can be a serious challenge for children. Moreover, this quality always varies from child to child - there are no identical children in this regard. Despite these challenges, an accurate diagnosis is an integral part of proper, effective treatment.

General therapeutic approaches

Common treatment options for children who have mental health problems include:

Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy” or behavior therapy, is a way to treat many mental health problems. Speaking with a psychologist, while showing emotions and feelings, the child allows you to look into the very depths of his experiences. During psychotherapy, children themselves learn a lot about their condition, mood, feelings, thoughts and behavior. Psychotherapy can help a child learn to respond to difficult situations while healthy coping with problematic barriers.

In the process of searching for problems and their solutions, specialists themselves will offer the necessary and most effective treatment option. In some cases, psychotherapy sessions will be quite enough, in others, it will be impossible to do without medications.

It is worth noting that acute mental disorders are always easier to treat than chronic ones.

Parental help

At such moments, the child needs the support of his parents more than ever. Children with mental health diagnoses, just like their parents, typically experience feelings of helplessness, anger and frustration. Ask your child's doctor for advice on how to change the way you interact with your son or daughter and how to cope with difficult behavior.

Look for ways to relax and have fun with your child. Compliment his strengths and abilities. Explore new stress management techniques that can help you understand how to calmly respond to stressful situations.

Family counseling or support groups can be a good help in treating childhood mental disorders. This approach is very important for parents and children. This will help you understand your child's illness, his feelings, and what you can do together to provide maximum help and support.

To help your child succeed in school, keep your child's teachers and school officials informed about your child's mental health. Unfortunately, in some cases, you may have to change your educational institution to a school whose curriculum is designed for children with mental problems.

If you are concerned about your child's mental health, seek professional advice. No one can make a decision for you. Don't avoid help because you are ashamed or afraid. With the right support, you can find out the truth about whether your child has disabilities and can explore treatment options, thereby ensuring your child continues to have a decent quality of life.

Comments and feedback:

USEFUL ARTICLE AS YOUR CHILD GROWS UP. NOW I KNOW WHAT POINTS TO PAY ATTENTION TO IN A CHILD’S BEHAVIOR.

In first grade, I realized that something was wrong with my child. All children experienced something this year, but it was especially difficult for my son. And despite the fact that my husband thought that everything was fine with him, I went to the doctor. And for good reason. Just care and attention was not enough for my son. I had to take medications and the treatment turned out to be very effective

The child has a very disturbed psyche, what should I do?

Hello, I am a mother of three children. Two boys, 8 and 3 years old, and a baby, 8 months old. Problem with older child. From a very young age he was very hyperactive and excitable. Since childhood, he never played with toys. I always didn’t know what to do until now. Very aggressive, something might go wrong. Everywhere they don’t like him, not in the garden, not at school, not on the street. He always does evil to everyone. And he’s still happy. Everything is fine in our family; no one drinks or smokes. There is also a problem at home: he offends the younger one and can never sit down and play anything. There are enough toys. He just chases the younger one around the whole apartment or turns his head on the bed with the younger one - such a game. Almost immediately he cries and screams. I explain that crying and yelling don’t solve problems; you need to come to me and talk. He also always twitches and imagines that he is shooting. Acts like he's 4 years old. Inappropriate on the street or anywhere else. At school they complain that he beats children, that he is aggressive, if someone misrepresents him or accidentally hits him, he is ready to kill him. Very angry. I do not know what to do. Is it possible to somehow calm the psyche? Sedatives? When he was a little dad, he often watched action movies on TV with murders and shooting games, and he also saw. Could this affect the psyche? He twitches all the time, he can’t even be calm for 10 minutes, even when we go to school he twitches like he’s shooting. Help with advice.

Read also

nata30

Comments on this post

Only registered users can comment.

Lenik Vasilisa

How does the child develop - according to age or with a delay?

How does he do in school - exactly how?

You need to see a psychologist for a diagnosis - is hyperactivity really present or is it a consequence of upbringing? To complete the picture, you should bring a reference from the teacher to the psychologist.

Also take a video and show the psychologist how the child behaves at home, how he plays.

Have you tried taking him to a sports section based on his age? Find a good coach and explain the situation. Maybe in the section the child will let off steam and your relationship will improve.

It seems that during all this time you didn’t try to fix anything, sorry, but you didn’t write what exactly you tried to do.

Do not start the problem until adolescence, it will become more difficult over time

nata30

Judging by your description, the state of the boy’s nervous system and psyche must be checked by specialists: a neurologist, a psychiatrist (in a clinic) and a psychologist (you need to look, but now full-time psychologists are not uncommon in schools).

Only specialists, after personal contact with the child, can make a conclusion: whether the child is adequate or not.

If experts consider that the child is completely adequate, only there are difficulties with upbringing, etc. - then please, we can discuss these problems in detail here.

If specialists consider that the child needs medical observation and medical measures, then they will take these measures, including prescribing a sedative.

Please do not be afraid to contact a neurologist and psychologist - only they can personally determine whether the child’s nerves and psyche are in perfect order or not.

If everything is in order with them, then it will be possible to adjust the child’s upbringing and lifestyle.

But if not everything is in order, then it is necessary to establish this accurately.

nata30

I support E.O. Komarovsky and repeat what I have already said: if a psychiatrist, after a long observation, diagnoses “hyperactivity,” then the patient cannot do anything better than follow his instructions, except to look for another psychiatrist.

Mental disorders in children

Mental disorders can complicate a person’s life even more than obvious physical disabilities. The situation is especially critical when a small child suffers from an invisible illness, who has his whole life ahead of him, and right now rapid development should occur. For this reason, parents should be aware of the topic, closely monitor their children and promptly respond to any suspicious phenomena.

Causes

Childhood mental illnesses do not appear out of nowhere - there is a clear list of criteria that do not guarantee the development of a disorder, but greatly contribute to it. Individual diseases have their own causes, but this area is more characterized by mixed specific disorders, and this is not about choosing or diagnosing a disease, but about the general causes of its occurrence. It is worth considering all possible causes, without dividing by the disorders they cause.

Genetic predisposition

This is the only completely inevitable factor. In this case, the disease is caused by initially improper functioning of the nervous system, and gene disorders, as is known, cannot be treated - doctors can only muffle the symptoms.

If cases of serious mental disorders are known among close relatives of future parents, it is possible (but not guaranteed) that they will be passed on to the baby. However, such pathologies can manifest themselves even in preschool age.

Mental disability

This factor, which is also a kind of mental disorder, can negatively affect the further development of the body and provoke more severe illnesses.

Brain damage

Another extremely common reason, which (like gene disorders) interferes with the normal functioning of the brain, but not at the genetic level, but at the level visible under an ordinary microscope.

This primarily includes head injuries received in the first years of life, but some children are so unlucky that they are injured before birth - or as a result of a difficult birth.

Disorders can also be caused by an infection, which is considered more dangerous for the fetus, but can also infect the child.

Bad habits of parents

Usually they point to the mother, but if the father was not healthy due to alcoholism or a strong addiction to smoking or drugs, this could also affect the child’s health.

Experts say that the female body is especially sensitive to the destructive effects of bad habits, so it is generally not advisable for women to drink or smoke, but even a man who wants to conceive a healthy child must first abstain from such methods for several months.

A pregnant woman is strictly prohibited from drinking and smoking.

Constant conflicts

When they say that a person is capable of going crazy in a difficult psychological situation, this is not at all an artistic exaggeration.

If an adult does not provide a healthy psychological atmosphere, then for a child who does not yet have a developed nervous system or a correct perception of the world around him, this can be a real blow.

Most often, the cause of pathologies is conflicts in the family, since the child spends most of the time there and has nowhere to go. However, in some cases, an unfavorable environment among peers - in the yard, in kindergarten or school - can also play an important role.

In the latter case, the problem can be solved by changing the institution that the child attends, but to do this you need to understand the situation and begin to change it even before the consequences become irreversible.

Types of diseases

Children can suffer from almost all mental illnesses to which adults are also susceptible, but children also have their own (purely childhood) illnesses. At the same time, accurate diagnosis of a particular disease in childhood becomes very difficult. This is due to the developmental characteristics of children, whose behavior is already very different from that of adults.

Not in all cases, parents can easily recognize the first signs of problems.

Even doctors usually make a final diagnosis no earlier than the child reaches primary school age, using very vague, too general concepts to describe the early disorder.

We will provide a generalized list of diseases, the description of which for this reason will not be perfectly accurate. In some patients, individual symptoms will not appear, and the very fact of the presence of even two or three signs will not mean a mental disorder. In general, the summary table of childhood mental disorders looks like this.

Mental retardation and developmental delay

The essence of the problem is quite obvious - the child is physically developing normally, but in terms of mental and intellectual level he is significantly behind his peers. It is possible that he will never reach the level of at least an average adult.

The result can be mental infantilism, when an adult behaves literally like a child, moreover, a preschooler or elementary school student. It is much more difficult for such a child to study; this can be caused by both poor memory and the inability to voluntarily focus attention on a specific subject.

The slightest extraneous factor can distract a child from learning.

Attention Deficit Disorder

Although the name of this group of diseases may be perceived as one of the symptoms of the previous group, the nature of the phenomenon here is completely different.

A child with such a syndrome does not lag behind in mental development, and the hyperactivity typical for him is perceived by most people as a sign of health. However, it is in excessive activity that the root of evil lies, since in this case it has painful features - there is absolutely no activity that the child would love and complete.

If high activity is not strange for small children, then here it is hypertrophied to the point that the baby cannot even wait for his turn in the game - and for this reason he can quit it without finishing the game.

It is quite obvious that getting such a child to study diligently is extremely problematic.

Autism

The concept of autism is extremely broad, but in general it is characterized by a very deep withdrawal into one’s own inner world. Many people consider autism to be a form of retardation, but in terms of their potential, an autistic person is usually not very different from their peers.

The problem lies in the impossibility of normal communication with others. While a healthy child learns absolutely everything from those around him, an autistic child receives much less information from the outside world.

Gaining new experiences is also a serious problem, since children with autism perceive any sudden changes extremely negatively.

However, autistic people are even capable of independent mental development, it just happens more slowly - due to the lack of maximum opportunities for acquiring new knowledge.

"Adult" mental disorders

This includes those ailments that are considered relatively common among adults, but are quite rare in children. A noticeable phenomenon among adolescents are various manic states: delusions of grandeur, persecution, and so on.

Childhood schizophrenia affects only one child in fifty thousand, but it is frightening due to the scale of regression in mental and physical development. Due to the pronounced symptoms, Tourette's syndrome has also become known, when the patient regularly uses obscene language (uncontrollably).

What should parents pay attention to?

Psychologists with extensive experience claim that absolutely healthy people do not exist. If in most cases minor oddities are perceived as a peculiar character trait that does not particularly bother anyone, then in certain situations they can become a clear sign of impending pathology.

Since the systematics of mental illnesses in childhood is complicated by the similarity of symptoms in fundamentally different disorders, it is not worth considering alarming oddities in connection with individual diseases. It is better to present them in the form of a general list of alarm bells.

It is worth recalling that none of these qualities is a 100% sign of a mental disorder - unless there is a hypertrophied, pathological level of development of the defect.

So, the reason for going to a specialist may be a clear manifestation of the following qualities in a child.

Increased level of cruelty

Here we should distinguish between childhood cruelty, caused by a lack of understanding of the degree of discomfort caused, and receiving pleasure from the purposeful, conscious infliction of pain - not only on others, but also on oneself.

If a child at the age of about 3 years old pulls a cat by the tail, then he learns the world in this way, but if at school age he checks her reaction to an attempt to tear off her paw, then this is clearly abnormal.

Cruelty usually expresses an unhealthy atmosphere at home or in the company of friends, but it can either go away on its own (under the influence of external factors) or have irreparable consequences.

Fundamental refusal to eat and an exaggerated desire to lose weight

The concept of anorexia has been heard in recent years - it is a consequence of low self-esteem and the desire for an ideal that is so exaggerated that it takes on ugly forms.

Among children suffering from anorexia, almost all are teenage girls, but one should distinguish between normal monitoring of their figure and driving themselves to exhaustion, since the latter has an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the body.

Panic attacks

Fear of something may appear generally normal, but be of an unreasonably high degree. Relatively speaking: when a person is afraid of heights (falling), standing on a balcony, this is normal, but if he is afraid to be even just in an apartment, on the top floor, this is already a pathology.

Such unreasonable fear not only interferes with normal life in society, but can also lead to more severe consequences, actually creating a difficult psychological situation where there is none.

Severe depression and suicidal tendencies

Sadness is common to people of any age. If it drags on for a long time (for example, a couple of weeks), the question arises as to the cause.

There is actually no reason for children to become depressed for such a long period, so it can be perceived as a separate illness.

The only common reason for childhood depression may be a difficult psychological situation, but it is precisely the cause of the development of many mental disorders.

Depression itself is dangerous due to its tendency to self-destruction. Many people think about suicide at least once in their lives, but if this topic takes the form of a hobby, there is a risk of attempting to self-mutilate.

Sudden mood swings or changes in habitual behavior

The first factor indicates a weakened psyche, its inability to resist in response to certain stimuli.

If a person behaves this way in everyday life, then his reaction in an emergency situation may be inadequate. In addition, with constant bouts of aggression, depression or fear, a person can torment himself even more, as well as negatively affect the mental health of others.

A strong and sudden change in behavior that does not have a specific justification does not indicate the emergence of a mental disorder, but rather an increased likelihood of such an outcome.

In particular, a person who suddenly became silent must have experienced severe stress.

Extreme hyperactivity that interferes with concentration

When a child is very active, this does not surprise anyone, but he probably has some kind of activity to which he is ready to devote a long time. Hyperactivity with signs of a disorder is when a child cannot even play active games for a long enough time, and not because he is tired, but simply due to a sudden switch of attention to something else.

It is impossible to influence such a child even with threats, but he is faced with reduced learning opportunities.

Negative social phenomena

Excessive conflict (even to the point of regular assault) and a tendency to bad habits themselves can simply signal the presence of a difficult psychological situation that the child is trying to overcome in such unsightly ways.

However, the roots of the problem may lie elsewhere. For example, constant aggression may be caused not only by the need to defend itself, but also by the increased cruelty mentioned at the beginning of the list.

The nature of suddenly manifested abuse of anything is generally quite unpredictable - it can be either a deeply hidden attempt at self-destruction, or a banal escape from reality (or even a psychological attachment bordering on mania).

At the same time, alcohol and drugs never solve the problem that led to addiction to them, but they have a detrimental effect on the body and can contribute to further degradation of the psyche.

Treatment methods

Although mental disorders are clearly a serious problem, most of them can be corrected - up to full recovery, while a relatively small percentage of them are incurable pathologies. Another thing is that treatment can last for years and almost always requires the maximum involvement of all the people around the child.

The choice of technique strongly depends on the diagnosis, and even diseases with very similar symptoms may require a fundamentally different approach to treatment. That is why it is so important to describe to the doctor as accurately as possible the essence of the problem and the symptoms noticed. The main emphasis should be on comparing “what was and what has become”, explaining why it seems to you that something went wrong.

Most relatively simple diseases can be treated with ordinary psychotherapy - and only with it. Most often, it takes the form of personal conversations between the child (if he has already reached a certain age) and the doctor, who in this way gets the most accurate idea of ​​the patient’s understanding of the essence of the problem.

A specialist can assess the scale of what is happening and find out the reasons. The task of an experienced psychologist in this situation is to show the child the exaggeration of the cause in his mind, and if the cause is really serious, to try to distract the patient from the problem, to give him a new incentive.

At the same time, therapy can take different forms - for example, autistics and schizophrenics who are withdrawn into themselves are unlikely to support a conversation. They may not make contact with humans at all, but they usually do not refuse close communication with animals, which can ultimately increase their sociability, and this is already a sign of improvement.

The use of medications is always accompanied by the same psychotherapy, but already indicates a more complex pathology - or its greater development. Children with impaired communication skills or delayed development are given stimulants to increase their activity, including cognitive activity.

For severe depression, aggression or panic attacks, antidepressants and sedatives are prescribed. If a child shows signs of painful mood swings and seizures (even hysteria), stabilizing and antipsychotic drugs are used.

Inpatient care is the most complex form of intervention, demonstrating the need for constant monitoring (at least during the course). This type of treatment is used only to correct the most severe disorders, such as schizophrenia in children. Illnesses of this kind cannot be treated at once - a small patient will have to go to the hospital several times. If positive changes are noticeable, such courses will become less frequent and shorter over time.

Naturally, during treatment, the most favorable environment should be created for the child, excluding any stress. That is why the fact of having a mental illness should not be hidden - on the contrary, kindergarten teachers or school teachers should know about it in order to properly build the educational process and relationships in the team.

It is completely unacceptable to tease or reproach a child with his disorder, and in general you should not mention it - let the child feel normal.

But love him a little more, and then over time everything will fall into place. Ideally, it is better to respond before any signs appear (with preventive methods).

Achieve a stable positive atmosphere in the family circle and build a trusting relationship with your child so that he can count on your support at any time and is not afraid to talk about any unpleasant phenomenon for him.

You can find out more information regarding this topic by watching the video below.

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Mental disorder in children

Mental disorder is not a disease, but a designation for a group of them. The disorders are characterized by destructive changes in a person’s psycho-emotional state and behavior. The patient is unable to adapt to daily conditions, cope with everyday problems, professional tasks or interpersonal relationships.

Causes

Both psychological, biological, and sociopsychological factors are included in the list of things that can cause mental disorder at an early age. And how the disease manifests itself directly depends on its nature and the degree of exposure to the irritant. A mental disorder in a minor patient can be caused by a genetic predisposition.

Doctors often define the disorder as a consequence of:

• limited intellectual abilities,
• brain damage,
• problems within the family,
• regular conflicts with loved ones and peers.

Emotional trauma can lead to serious mental illness. For example, a deterioration in the psycho-emotional state of a child occurs as a result of an event that caused a shock.

Symptoms

Minor patients are susceptible to the same mental disorders as adults. But diseases usually manifest themselves in different ways. Thus, in adults, the most common manifestation of the disorder is a state of sadness and depression. Children, in turn, more often show the first signs of aggression and irritability.

How the disease begins and progresses in a child depends on the type of acute or chronic disorder:

• Hyperactivity is a major symptom of attention deficit disorder. The disorder can be identified by three key symptoms: inability to concentrate, excessive activity, including emotional activity, impulsive, and sometimes aggressive behavior.
• The signs and severity of symptoms of autistic mental disorders are variable. However, in all cases, the disorder affects the minor patient's ability to communicate and interact with others.
• A child’s reluctance to eat and excessive attention to weight changes indicate eating disorders. They interfere with daily life and harm your health.
• If a child is prone to losing touch with reality, memory loss, and inability to navigate in time and space, this may be a symptom of schizophrenia.

It is easier to treat a disease when it just begins. And in order to identify the problem in time, it is also important to pay attention to:

• Changes in the child's mood. If children feel sad or anxious for a long time, action needs to be taken.
• Excessive emotionality. Increased severity of emotions, for example, fear, is an alarming symptom. Emotionality without a justified reason can also provoke disturbances in heart rhythm and breathing.
• Atypical behavioral reactions. A signal of a mental disorder may be a desire to harm oneself or others, or frequent fights.

Diagnosis of mental disorder in a child

The basis for making a diagnosis is the totality of symptoms and the degree to which the disorder affects the child’s daily activities. If necessary, related specialists help diagnose the disease and its type:

Work with a minor patient occurs on an individual basis using an approved symptom database. Tests are prescribed primarily for the diagnosis of eating disorders. It is mandatory to study the clinical picture, history of diseases and injuries, including psychological ones, preceding the disorder. There are no accurate and strict methods to determine a mental disorder.

Complications

The dangers of a mental disorder depend on its nature. In most cases, the consequences are expressed in violation of:

• communication skills,
• intellectual activity,
• correct reaction to situations.

Often mental disorders in children are accompanied by suicidal tendencies.

Treatment

What can you do

In order to cure a mental disorder in a minor patient, the participation of doctors, parents, and teachers is necessary - all the people with whom the child comes into contact. Depending on the type of disease, it can be treated with psychotherapeutic methods or with the use of drug therapy. The success of treatment directly depends on the specific diagnosis. Some diseases are incurable.

The parents’ task is to consult a doctor in a timely manner and provide detailed information about the symptoms. It is necessary to describe the most significant discrepancies between the child’s current state and behavior and previous ones. The specialist must tell parents what to do with the disorder and how to provide first aid during home treatment if the situation worsens. During the therapy period, the parents’ task is to ensure the most comfortable environment and a complete absence of stressful situations.

What does a doctor do

As part of psychotherapy, a psychologist talks with the patient, helping him to independently assess the depth of his experiences and understand his condition, behavior, and emotions. The goal is to develop the correct reaction to acute situations and freely overcome the problem. Drug treatment involves taking:

• stimulants,
• antidepressants,
• sedatives,
• stabilizing and antipsychotic drugs.

Prevention

Psychologists remind parents that the family environment and upbringing are of great importance when it comes to the psychological and nervous stability of children. For example, divorce or regular quarrels between parents can provoke violations. Mental disorder can be prevented by providing constant support to the child, allowing him to share his experiences without embarrassment or fear.

we have lost entire generations in them. While the parents worked and tried to bring home a crust of bread, the children walked on their own. And although I know that many of you remember your childhood as something most wonderful, by the way, I am also included in these ranks. But that crisis and unemployment gave a powerful impetus to negativity.

My husband recently told me. His friend was walking home, and a group of young people stood near the house, shouting obscenities under the windows and drinking alcohol. The man asked the company to move to a more deserted area.

Arm yourself with knowledge and read a useful informative article about mental disorder in children. After all, being parents means studying everything that will help maintain the degree of health in the family at around “36.6”.

Find out what can cause the disease and how to recognize it in a timely manner. Find information about the signs that can help you identify illness. And what tests will help identify the disease and make a correct diagnosis.

In the article you will read everything about methods of treating a disease such as mental disorder in children. Find out what effective first aid should be. How to treat: choose medications or traditional methods?

You will also learn how untimely treatment of a mental disorder in children can be dangerous, and why it is so important to avoid the consequences. All about how to prevent mental disorder in children and prevent complications.

And caring parents will find on the service pages complete information about the symptoms of mental disorder in children. How do the signs of the disease in children aged 1, 2 and 3 differ from the manifestations of the disease in children aged 4, 5, 6 and 7? What is the best way to treat mental illness in children?

Take care of the health of your loved ones and stay in good shape!

Mental health is a very sensitive topic. Clinical manifestations depend on the age of the child and the influence of certain factors. Often, due to fear for future changes in their own life, parents do not want to notice some problems with the psyche of their child.

Many people are afraid to catch the sidelong glances of their neighbors, feel the pity of their friends, or change their usual life order. But the child has the right to qualified, timely assistance from a doctor, which will help alleviate his condition, and in the early stages of certain diseases, cure one or another spectrum.

One of the complex mental illnesses is childhood. This disease is understood as an acute condition of a child or a teenager, which manifests itself in his incorrect perception of reality, his inability to distinguish the real from the imaginary, and his inability to really understand what is happening.

Features of childhood psychoses

And children are not diagnosed as often as adults. Mental disorders come in different types and forms, but no matter how the disorder manifests itself, no matter what symptoms the disease has, psychosis significantly complicates the life of the child and his parents, prevents him from thinking correctly, controlling actions, and building adequate parallels in relation to established social norms.

Childhood psychotic disorders are characterized by:

Childhood psychosis has different forms and manifestations, which is why it is difficult to diagnose and treat.

Why are children susceptible to mental disorders?

Multiple causes contribute to the development of mental disorders in children. Psychiatrists identify whole groups of factors:

• genetic;
• biological;
• sociopsychological;
• psychological.

The most important provoking factor is a genetic predisposition to. Other reasons include:

• problems with intelligence (and others like it);
• incompatibility of the temperament of the baby and the parent;
• family discord;
• conflicts between parents;
• events that left psychological trauma;
• medications that can cause a psychotic state;
• high temperature, which can cause or;

To date, all possible causes have not been fully studied, but studies have confirmed that children with schizophrenia almost always have signs of organic brain disorders, and patients with autism are often diagnosed with the presence of a condition that is explained by hereditary causes or trauma during childbirth.

Psychosis in young children can occur due to parental divorce.

At-risk groups

Thus, children are at risk:

• one of whose parents had or has mental disorders;
• who are brought up in a family where conflicts constantly arise between parents;
• transferred;
• those who have suffered psychological trauma;
• whose blood relatives have mental illnesses, and the closer the degree of relationship, the greater the risk of developing the disease.

Types of psychotic disorders among children

Children's mental illnesses are divided according to certain criteria. Depending on age, there are:

• early psychosis;
• late psychosis.

The first type includes patients from infancy (up to one year), preschool (from 2 to 6 years) and early school age (from 6-8). The second type includes patients of pre-adolescence (8-11) and adolescence (12-15).

Depending on the cause of the disease, psychosis can be:

• exogenous– disorders caused by external factors;
• – disorders provoked by the internal characteristics of the body.

Depending on the type of course, psychoses can be:

• that arose as a result of prolonged psychological trauma;
• - arise instantly and unexpectedly.

A type of psychotic deviation is. Depending on the nature of the course and symptoms of affect disorders, there are:

Symptoms depending on the form of failure

Different symptoms of mental illness are justified by different forms of the disease. Common symptoms of the disease are:

• – the baby sees, hears, feels what is not really there;
• – a person sees the existing situation in his own incorrect interpretation;
• passivity, lack of initiative;
• aggressiveness, rudeness;
• obsession syndrome.
• deviations associated with thinking.

Psychogenic shock often occurs in children and adolescents. Reactive psychosis occurs as a result of psychological trauma.

This form of psychosis has signs and symptoms that distinguish it from other mental spectrum disorders in children:

• its reason is deep emotional shock;
• reversibility - symptoms weaken over time;
• symptoms depend on the nature of the injury.

Early age

At an early age, mental health problems manifest themselves in... The baby does not smile or in any way show joy on his face. Up to a year, the disorder is detected in the absence of humming, babbling, and clapping. The baby does not react to objects, people, or parents.

Age crises, during which children are most susceptible to mental disorders from 3 to 4 years, from 5 to 7, from 12 to 18 years.

Early mental disorders manifest themselves in:

• frustration;
• capriciousness, disobedience;
• increased fatigue;
• irritability;
• lack of communication;
• lack of emotional contact.

Later ages up to adolescence

Mental problems in a 5-year-old child should worry parents if the child loses already acquired skills, communicates little, does not want to play role-playing games, and does not take care of his appearance.

At the age of 7, the child becomes mentally unstable, he has an appetite disorder, unnecessary fears appear, his performance decreases, and rapid fatigue appears.

At the age of 12-18, parents need to pay attention to their teenager if he or she develops:

• sudden mood swings;
• melancholy, ;
• aggressiveness, conflict;
• , inconsistency;
• a combination of the incompatible: irritability with acute shyness, sensitivity with callousness, the desire for complete independence with the desire to always be close to mom;
• schizoid;
• refusal of accepted rules;
• penchant for philosophy and extreme positions;
• intolerance of guardianship.

More painful signs of psychosis in older children include:

Diagnostic criteria and methods

Despite the proposed list of signs of psychosis, no parent can definitely and accurately diagnose it on their own. First of all, parents should take their child to a psychotherapist. But even after the first appointment with a professional, it is too early to talk about mental personality disorders. A small patient should be examined by the following doctors:

• neurologist;
• speech therapist;
• psychiatrist;
• a doctor who specializes in developmental diseases.

Sometimes the patient is admitted to a hospital for examination and necessary procedures and tests.

Providing professional assistance

Short-term attacks of psychosis in a child disappear immediately after their cause disappears. More severe diseases require long-term therapy, often in an inpatient hospital setting. Specialists use the same drugs to treat childhood psychosis as for adults, only in appropriate doses.

Treatment of psychoses and psychotic spectrum disorders in children involves:

If parents were able to identify a mental disorder in their child in time, then several consultations with a psychiatrist or psychologist are usually sufficient to improve the condition. But there are cases that require long-term treatment and being under the supervision of doctors.

Psychological failure in a child, which is associated with his physical condition, is cured immediately after the disappearance of the underlying disease. If the illness was provoked by a stressful situation experienced, then even after the condition improves, the baby requires special treatment and consultations with a psychotherapist.

In extreme cases, when severe aggression occurs, the baby may be prescribed. But for the treatment of children, the use of heavy psychotropic drugs is used only in extreme cases.

In most cases, psychoses experienced in childhood do not return in adulthood in the absence of provoking situations. Parents of recovering children must fully adhere to the daily routine, do not forget about daily walks, a balanced diet and, if necessary, take care of taking medications in a timely manner.

The baby cannot be left unattended. If there is the slightest disturbance in his mental state, it is necessary to seek help from a specialist who will help him cope with the problem that has arisen.

To treat and avoid consequences for the child’s psyche in the future, it is necessary to follow all recommendations of specialists.

Every parent concerned about the mental health of their child should remember:

Love and care are what any person needs, especially a small and defenseless one.

Mental disorders in children or mental dysontogenesis are deviations from normal behavior, accompanied by a group of disorders that are classified as pathological conditions. They arise due to genetic, sociopathic, physiological reasons, sometimes their formation is facilitated by injuries or diseases of the brain. Disorders that arise at an early age become the cause of mental disorders and require treatment by a psychiatrist.

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Causes of disorders

The formation of a child’s psyche is associated with the biological characteristics of the body, heredity and constitution, the rate of formation of the brain and parts of the central nervous system, and acquired skills. The root of the development of mental disorders in children should always be sought in biological, sociopathic or psychological factors that provoke the occurrence of disorders; often the process is triggered by a combination of agents. The main reasons include:

• Genetic predisposition. It assumes initially improper functioning of the nervous system due to the innate characteristics of the body. When close relatives have mental disorders, there is a possibility of passing them on to the child.
• Deprivation (inability to satisfy needs) in early childhood. The connection between mother and baby begins from the first minutes of birth; it sometimes has a major influence on a person’s attachments and the depth of emotional feelings in the future. Any type of deprivation (tactile or emotional, psychological) partially or completely affects a person’s mental development and leads to mental dysontogenesis.
• Limited mental abilities also refer to a kind of mental disorder and affect physiological development and sometimes become the cause of other disorders.
• Brain injury occurs as a result of difficult childbirth or head injuries, encephalopathy is caused by infections during intrauterine development or after illness. In terms of prevalence, this reason takes the leading place along with the hereditary factor.
• Bad habits of the mother, the toxicological effects of smoking, alcohol, and drugs have a negative impact on the fetus even during the period of pregnancy. If the father suffers from these ailments, the consequences of intemperance often affect the child’s health, affecting the central nervous system and brain, which negatively affects the psyche.

Family conflicts or an unfavorable environment at home are a significant factor that traumatizes the developing psyche and aggravates the condition.

Mental disorders in childhood, especially under one year of age, are united by a common feature: the progressive dynamics of mental functions are combined with the development of dysontogenesis associated with a violation of the morphofunctional brain systems. The condition occurs due to cerebral disorders, congenital characteristics or social influences.

Relationship between disorders and age

In children, psychophysical development occurs gradually and is divided into stages:

• early - up to three years;
• preschool – up to the age of six;
• junior school – up to 10 years;
• school-puberty – up to 17 years.

Critical periods are considered to be time periods during the transition to the next stage, which are characterized by rapid changes in all body functions, including an increase in mental reactivity. At this time, children are most susceptible to nervous disorders or worsening of existing mental pathologies. Age crises occur at 3-4 years, 5-7 years, 12-16 years. What features are characteristic of each stage:

• Before one year of age, babies develop positive and negative sensations and form initial ideas about the world around them. In the first months of life, disorders are associated with the needs that the child must receive: food, sleep, comfort and absence of painful sensations. The crisis of 7-8 months is marked by awareness of the differentiation of feelings, recognition of loved ones and the formation of attachment, so the child requires the attention of the mother and family members. The better parents provide satisfaction of needs, the faster a positive behavioral stereotype is formed. Dissatisfaction causes a negative reaction; the more unfulfilled desires accumulate, the more severe the deprivation, which subsequently leads to aggression.
• In 2-year-old children, active maturation of brain cells continues, motivation for behavior appears, orientation towards evaluation by adults, and positive behavior is identified. With constant control and prohibitions, the inability to assert oneself leads to a passive attitude and the development of infantilism. With additional stress, behavior takes on a pathological character.
• Stubbornness and nervous breakdowns, protests are observed at 4 years old, mental disorders can manifest themselves in mood swings, tension, and internal discomfort. Restrictions cause frustration, the child’s mental balance is disturbed due to even minor negative influences.
• At 5 years of age, disorders can manifest themselves when mental development is advanced, accompanied by dysynchrony, that is, a one-sided direction of interests appears. Also, attention should be paid if the child has lost skills acquired earlier, has become untidy, limits communication, has a decreased vocabulary, or does not play role-playing games.
• In seven-year-olds, the cause of neuroses is schoolwork; with the start of the school year, disturbances manifest themselves in instability of mood, tearfulness, fatigue, and headaches. The reactions are based on psychosomatic asthenia (poor sleep and appetite, decreased performance, fears), fatigue. The failure factor is the discrepancy between mental abilities and the school curriculum.
• During school and adolescence, mental disorders manifest themselves in restlessness, increased anxiety, melancholy, and mood swings. Negativism is combined with conflict, aggression, and internal contradictions. Children react painfully to others' assessment of their abilities and appearance. Sometimes there is increased self-confidence or, conversely, criticism, posturing, and disdain for the opinions of teachers and parents.

Mental disorders should be distinguished from anomalies of post-schizophrenic defect and dementia resulting from organic brain disease. In this case, dysontogenesis acts as a symptom of pathology.



Types of pathologies

Children are diagnosed with mental disorders typical of adults, but children also have specific age-related ailments. Symptoms of dysontogenesis are varied, depending on age, stage of development and environment.

The peculiarity of the manifestations is that in children it is not always easy to distinguish pathology from characteristics of character and development. There are several types of mental disorders in children.



Mental retardation

Pathology refers to acquired or congenital mental underdevelopment with a clear lack of intelligence, when the child’s social adaptation is difficult or completely impossible. In sick children the following decreases, sometimes significantly:

• cognitive abilities and memory;
• perception and attention;
• speech skills;
• control over instinctual needs.

The vocabulary is poor, the pronunciation is unclear, the child is poorly developed emotionally and morally, and is unable to predict the consequences of his actions. It is mildly detected in children upon entering school; moderate and severe stages are diagnosed in the first years of life.

The disease cannot be cured completely, but proper upbringing and training will allow the child to learn communication and self-care skills; with a mild stage of the disease, people are able to adapt to society. In severe cases, care will be required throughout the person's life.

Impaired mental function

A borderline state between oligophrenia and the norm, disorders are manifested by delays in the cognitive, motor or emotional, speech sphere. Mental retardation sometimes occurs due to slow development of brain structures. It happens that the condition passes without a trace or remains as an underdevelopment of one function, while it is compensated by other, sometimes accelerated, abilities.

There are also residual syndromes - hyperactivity, decreased attention, loss of previously acquired skills. The type of pathology can become the basis for pathocharacterological manifestations of personality in adulthood.

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

A common problem in children of preschool age and up to 12 years old, it is characterized by neuro-reflex excitability. It shows that the child:

• active, unable to sit still or do one thing for a long time;
• constantly distracted;
• impulsive;
• intemperate and talkative;
• does not finish what he starts.

Neuropathy does not lead to a decrease in intelligence, but if the condition is not corrected, it often becomes the cause of difficulties with studying and adaptation in the social sphere. In the future, the consequences of attention deficit disorder may include incontinence, drug or alcohol addiction, and family problems.

Autism

A congenital mental disorder is accompanied not only by speech and motor disorders; autism is characterized by a violation of contact and social interaction with people. Stereotypical behavior makes it difficult to change the environment and living conditions; changes cause fear and panic. Children tend to perform monotonous movements and actions, repeating sounds and words.

The disease is difficult to treat, but the efforts of doctors and parents can correct the situation and reduce the manifestations of psychopathological symptoms.

Acceleration

The pathology is characterized by accelerated development of the child physically or intellectually. Reasons include urbanization, improved nutrition, and interethnic marriages. Acceleration can manifest itself as harmonious development, when all systems develop evenly, but these cases are rare. With the progress of physical and mental development, somatovegetative abnormalities are noted at an early age, and endocrine problems are identified in older children.

The mental sphere is also characterized by disorder, for example, during the formation of early speech skills, motor skills or social cognition lag behind, and physical maturity is combined with infantilism. With age, differences smooth out, so violations usually do not lead to consequences.

Infantilism

With infantilism, the emotional-volitional sphere lags behind in development. Symptoms are identified at the stage of school and adolescence, when the already grown child behaves like a preschooler: he prefers to play rather than gain knowledge. Does not accept school discipline and requirements, while the level of abstract logical thinking is not impaired. In an unfavorable social environment, simple infantilism tends to progress.

The reasons for the formation of the disorder are often constant control and restriction, unjustified guardianship, projection of negative emotions onto the child and lack of restraint, which encourages him to close down and adapt.

What to look for?

Manifestations of mental disorders in childhood are varied, and sometimes it is difficult to confuse them with a lack of upbringing. Symptoms of these disorders can sometimes appear in healthy children, so only a specialist can diagnose the pathology. You should consult a doctor if signs of mental disorders manifest themselves clearly, expressed in the following behavior:

• Increased cruelty. A child at a young age does not yet understand that dragging a cat by the tail hurts the animal. The student is aware of the level of discomfort of the animal; if he likes it, he should pay attention to his behavior.
• The desire to lose weight. The desire to be beautiful arises in every girl in adolescence, when, with a normal weight, a schoolgirl considers herself fat and refuses to eat, there is a reason to go to a psychiatrist.
• If a child has a high degree of anxiety, panic attacks often occur, the situation cannot be left unattended.
• Bad mood and blues are sometimes common to people, but the course of depression for more than 2 weeks in a teenager requires increased attention from parents.
• Mood swings indicate mental instability and inability to adequately respond to stimuli. If a change in behavior occurs without a reason, this indicates problems that require solutions.

When a child is active and sometimes inattentive, there is nothing to worry about. But if this makes it difficult for him to even play outdoor games with peers because he is distracted, the condition requires correction.

Treatment methods

Timely identification of behavioral disorders in children and the creation of a favorable psychological atmosphere makes it possible to correct mental disorders in most cases. Some situations require lifelong monitoring and medication. Sometimes it is possible to cope with the problem in a short time, sometimes it takes years to recover, with the support of the adults around the child. Therapy depends on the diagnosis, age, causes of formation and type of manifestations of disorders; in each specific case, the treatment method is selected individually, even when the symptoms vary slightly. Therefore, when visiting a psychotherapist or psychologist, it is important to explain to the doctor the essence of the problem, to provide a complete description of the characteristics of the child’s behavior, based on the comparative characteristics before and after the changes.

The following are used in the treatment of children:

• In simple cases, psychotherapeutic methods are sufficient, when the doctor, in conversations with the child and parents, helps to find the cause of the problem, ways to solve it, and teaches how to control behavior.
• A set of psychotherapeutic measures and medication use indicate a more serious development of the pathology. For depressive states, aggressive behavior, and mood swings, sedatives, antidepressants, and antipsychotics are prescribed. Nootropics and psychoneuroregulators are used to treat developmental delays.
• In case of severe disorders, inpatient treatment is recommended, where the child receives the necessary therapy under the supervision of a doctor.

During and after treatment, it is necessary to create a favorable environment in the family, eliminate stress and the negative impact of the environment that influences behavioral reactions.

If parents have doubts about the adequacy of the child’s behavior, they should contact a psychiatrist, a specialist will conduct an examination and prescribe treatment. It is important to identify pathology at an early stage in order to correct behavior in time, prevent the progression of the disorder and eliminate the problem.