childhood disorders Flashcards
(31 cards)
What proportion of children have a diagnosable mental health disorder?
1 in 8 children — about 3 per classroom.
How many young people aged 16–24 show symptoms of a common mental disorder?
1 in 6
By what age do most mental health problems begin?
Half by age 14; 75% by age 24.
What was the most common cause of death for ages 5–19 in 2017?
Suicide
What percentage of 17–19-year-olds with a mental health disorder have self-harmed or attempted suicide?
Nearly half; 52.7% for young women.
Is anxiety always a disorder?
No, it’s a normal emotion unless it becomes excessive or inappropriate.
What are the three components of anxiety?
Body (physiology): heart racing, sweating
Thoughts (cognition): catastrophic thinking
Actions (behaviour): avoidance or fight/flight
When is anxiety considered a disorder?
When it’s excessive, age-inappropriate, leads to avoidance, or causes significant distress/impairment.
What is the point prevalence of childhood anxiety?
6.5% (Polanczyk et al., 2015)
How can anxiety affect children?
Poor academic performance, impaired social relationships, greater health service use, and feelings of “missed opportunity.”
What systems are used to classify mental disorders?
DSM and ICD.
Do classification criteria differ between adults and children?
Not much; interpretation must consider developmental context.
What defines separation anxiety disorder?
Excessive anxiety over separation from home or attachment figures, causing physical symptoms and avoidance.
Separation Anxiety Diagnosis requirements?
Lasts at least 4 weeks, causes significant distress or interference.
What characterizes GAD in children?
Excessive, uncontrollable worry for 6+ months, with physical symptoms like headaches or fatigue.
Key behavioral signs of GAD?
Perfectionism, seeking constant reassurance.
What defines social anxiety disorder?
Fear of social situations involving evaluation or unfamiliar people.
Diagnosis criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder?
Lasts 6+ months, significant distress, occurs with peers (not just adults), impairs social functioning.
What is a specific phobia?
Intense fear of a specific object/situation (e.g., animals, dark, vomiting), with avoidance and distress.
Duration for diagnosis of Specific Phobia?
At least 6 months
What are panic attacks?
Sudden, intense fear with physical symptoms and catastrophic thoughts.
What’s needed for panic disorder diagnosis?
Recurrent, unexpected attacks + ongoing worry or behavior change.
What defines agoraphobia?
Persistent fear of 2+ environments (e.g., crowds, open spaces), out of proportion to actual threat.
How does agoraphobia affect behavior?
Leads to avoidance or extreme distress in feared places.
