home Drugs Types and symptoms of mental disorders in children. Childhood psychosis: causes, symptoms, treatment of mental disorders

Types and symptoms of mental disorders in children. Childhood psychosis: causes, symptoms, treatment of mental disorders

However, today specialists can notice many mental disorders already in a newborn, which allows treatment to begin on time.

Neuropsychological signs of mental disorders in children

Doctors have identified a number of syndromes - mental characteristics children most often found in at different ages. The syndrome of functional deficiency of subcortical formations of the brain develops in the prenatal period. It is characterized by:

Emotional instability, expressed in frequent changes mood;
Increased fatigue and associated low work capacity;
Pathological stubbornness and laziness;
Sensitivity, capriciousness and uncontrollability in behavior;
Prolonged enuresis (often long term);
Underdevelopment of fine motor skills;
Manifestations of psoriasis or allergies;
Appetite and sleep disorders;
Slow development of graphic activities (drawing, handwriting);
Tics, grimacing, screaming, uncontrollable laughter.

The syndrome is quite difficult to correct, because due to the fact that frontal regions are not formed, most often deviations in the child’s mental development are accompanied by intellectual disability.

Dysgenetic syndrome associated with functional deficiency of brain stem formations can manifest itself in childhood up to 1.5 years of age. Its main features are:

Disharmonious mental development with displacement of stages;
Facial asymmetries, irregular teeth growth and imbalance of body formula;
Difficulty falling asleep;
Abundance age spots and moles;
Distortion of motor development;
Diathesis, allergies and disorders of the endocrine system;
Problems in developing neatness skills;
Encopresis or enuresis;
Distorted Threshold pain sensitivity;
Violations of phonemic analysis, school maladjustment;
Selectivity of memory.

The mental characteristics of children with this syndrome are difficult to correct. Teachers and parents must ensure the child’s neurological health and the development of his vestibular-motor coordination. It should also be taken into account that emotional disorders intensify against the background of fatigue and exhaustion.

The syndrome, associated with the functional immaturity of the right hemisphere of the brain, can appear from 1.5 to 7-8 years. Deviations in the mental development of a child manifest themselves as:

Mosaic perception;
Impaired differentiation of emotions;
Confabulation (fantasizing, fiction);
Color vision disorders;
Errors in estimating angles, distances and proportions;
Distortion of memories;
Feeling of multiple limbs;
Violations of stress placement.

To correct the syndrome and reduce the severity of mental disorders in children, it is necessary to ensure the child’s neurological health and pay attention to Special attention development of visual-figurative and visual-effective thinking, spatial representation, visual perception and memory.

There are also a number of syndromes that develop from 7 to 15 years due to:

Birth injury of the cervical spinal cord;
General anesthesia;
Concussions;
Emotional stress;
Intracranial pressure.

To correct deviations in a child’s mental development, a set of measures is required aimed at developing interhemispheric interaction and ensuring the child’s neurological health.

Mental characteristics of children of different ages

The most important thing in the development of a small child under 3 years old is communication with his mother. It is the lack of maternal attention, love and communication that many doctors consider to be the basis for the development of various mental disorders. Doctors call the second reason a genetic predisposition passed on to children from their parents.

The period of early childhood is called somatic, when the development of mental functions is directly related to movements. The most typical manifestations of mental disorders in children include digestive and sleep disorders, flinching at sharp sounds, and monotonous crying. Therefore, if the baby is anxious for a long time, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will either help diagnose the problem or allay the parents’ fears.

Children aged 3-6 years develop quite actively. Psychologists characterize this period as a psychomotor period, when the reaction to stress can manifest itself in the form of stuttering, tics, nightmares, neuroticism, irritability, affective disorders and fears. As a rule, this period is quite stressful, since usually at this time the child begins to attend preschool educational institutions.

The ease of adaptation in a children's team largely depends on psychological, social and intellectual preparation. Mental disorders in children of this age may arise due to increased stress for which they are not prepared. It is quite difficult for hyperactive children to get used to new rules that require perseverance and concentration.

At the age of 7-12 years, mental disorders in children can manifest themselves as depressive disorders. Quite often, for self-affirmation, children choose friends with similar problems and ways of expressing themselves. But even more often in our time, children replace real communication with virtual communication. in social networks. The impunity and anonymity of such communication contribute to further alienation, and existing disorders can quickly progress. In addition, prolonged concentration in front of a screen affects the brain and can cause epileptic seizures.

Deviations in the mental development of a child at this age, in the absence of a reaction from adults, can lead to quite serious consequences, including disorders of sexual development and suicide. It is also important to monitor the behavior of girls, who often during this period begin to be dissatisfied with their appearance. Anorexia nervosa may develop, which is severe psychosomatic disorder, capable of irreversibly disrupting metabolic processes in the body.

Doctors also note that at this time psychical deviations in children can develop into the manifest period of schizophrenia. If you do not react in time, pathological fantasies and overvalued hobbies can develop into delusional ideas with hallucinations, changes in thinking and behavior.

Deviations in a child’s mental development can manifest themselves in different ways. In some cases, parents' fears are not confirmed, to their delight, and sometimes the help of a doctor is really necessary. Treatment of mental disorders can and should only be carried out by a specialist who has sufficient experience to make a correct diagnosis, and success largely depends not only on the right medications, but also on family support.

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. Certain diseases have own reasons, but this area is more characterized by mixed specific disorders, and we are not talking about the choice or diagnosis of the 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 his time there and has nowhere to go. However, in some cases important role An unfavorable environment among peers can also play a role - in the yard, in kindergarten or school.

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 the age of 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 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. Because of the bright severe symptoms Tourette's syndrome also became known, when the patient regularly uses obscene language (uncontrollably).

What should parents pay attention to?

Psychologists with extensive experience claim that absolutely healthy people does 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 future 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 tests 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 in last years heard - 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 hinders 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 self-mutilation.

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 is emergency 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 complete recovery, whereas incurable pathologies a relatively small percentage of them apply. 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.

Childhood psychosis: causes, symptoms, treatment of mental disorders

Mental health is a very sensitive topic. Clinical manifestations of mental disorders 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 some diseases, cure a mental disorder of one spectrum or another.

One of the complex mental illnesses is childhood psychosis. 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

Mental disorders and psychoses in children are not diagnosed as often as in adult men and women. There are mental disorders 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:

Delayed development of skills and intelligence. This feature appears in most cases. But there are diseases, for example, autism, during which the child has bright and advanced abilities in some area of activity. Experts say that in the early stages, mental disorders in children are difficult to distinguish from simple developmental delays, and therefore it is impossible to recognize a mental disorder.
Problems with social adjustment.
Violation of interpersonal relationships.
A sublime and special attitude towards inanimate objects.
Supporting monotony, not accepting changes in life.

Childhood psychosis It has different forms and manifestations, therefore 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:

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

problems with intelligence (mental retardation and others like it);
organic brain damage;
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;
heat which may cause hallucinations or delusional disorder;
neuroinfections.

To date, all possible causes have not been fully studied, but studies have confirmed that children with schizophrenia almost always have signs organic disorders brain, and patients with autism are often diagnosed with cerebral insufficiency, which is explained by hereditary causes or injuries 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;
have had neuroinfections;
those who have suffered psychological trauma;
who have blood relatives mental illness Moreover, 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:

The first type includes patients with mental disorders of 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-teen age (8-11) and adolescence (12-15).

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

exogenous – disorders caused by exposure to external factors;
endogenous – disorders provoked by the internal characteristics of the body.

Depending on the type of course, psychoses can be:

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

Symptoms depending on the form of failure

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

hallucinations - the baby sees, hears, feels something that is not really there;
delusion – a person sees the existing situation in his own incorrect interpretation;
decreased clarity of consciousness, difficulty in orientation in space;
passivity, lack of initiative;
aggressiveness, irritability, 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 autistic behavior in the child. 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:

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.

Parents need to pay attention to their teenager if he or she develops:

sudden mood swings;
melancholy, anxiety;
aggressiveness, conflict;
negativism, 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:

suicide attempts or self-harm;
causeless fear, which is accompanied by palpitations and rapid breathing;
desire to harm someone, cruelty towards others;
refusal to eat, taking laxatives, strong desire to lose weight;
increased feeling of anxiety that interferes with life;
inability to persevere;
taking drugs or alcohol;
constant mood swings;
bad behavior.

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 analyses.

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:

prescription of antipsychotics, antidepressants, stimulants, etc.;
consultations with relevant specialists;
family therapy;
group and individual psychotherapy;
attention and love of parents.

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 tranquilizers. 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, balanced diet and, if necessary, take care of taking medications in a timely manner.

The baby cannot be left unattended. At the slightest violation mental state you need to seek help from a specialist who will help you 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:

do not forget that psychosis is a disease that needs treatment;
treatment should be started in a timely manner, without delaying the trip to specialists;
it is necessary to consult with several specialists, because proper treatment is the key to success;
for the treatment and prevention of the disease, the support of family and friends is important;
goodwill towards the patient speeds up the treatment process and ensures lasting results after treatment;
After treatment, the baby must be returned to normal environment, make plans for the future;
it is necessary to create a calm atmosphere in the family: do not shout, do not practice physical or moral violence;
take care of the baby’s physical health;
avoid stress.

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

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 some medications, and logistical complexity possible treatment, often delay the timing of therapy, or force parents to explain their child’s condition as 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, clearly show signs of anxiety, which is a constant 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 under 3 years of age. Although symptoms and their severity are subject to change, the disorder always affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Disorders eating behavior- such as anorexia, bulimia and gluttony are quite serious diseases 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 a stabilization of persistent feelings of sadness or sudden mood swings much more severe than the usual variability common in many people.

It's 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 school.

Too strong emotions. Acute emotions of overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes combined with tachycardia or rapid breathing - serious reason 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 using third-party objects, desire 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 is no simple, unique or 100% guaranteed positive result tests. To make a diagnosis, the doctor may recommend the presence related specialists, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse, mental health educator, 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 we can all 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, training program which 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.

How to recognize mental disorders in a child

Mental disorders in children arise due to special factors that provoke developmental disorders of the child’s psyche. The mental health of children is so vulnerable that clinical manifestations and their reversibility depend on the age of the child and the duration of exposure to special factors.

The decision to consult a child with a psychotherapist is usually not an easy one for parents. In the understanding of parents, this means recognizing suspicions that the child has neuropsychiatric disorders. Many adults are afraid of registering their child, as well as the limited forms of education associated with this, and the limited choice of profession in the future. For this reason, parents often try not to notice behavioral features, development, and oddities, which are usually manifestations of mental disorders in children.

If parents are inclined to believe that the child needs to be treated, then first, as a rule, attempts are made to treat neuropsychic disorders using home remedies or advice from familiar healers. After unsuccessful independent attempts to improve the condition of their offspring, parents decide to seek qualified help. When turning to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist for the first time, parents often try to do this anonymously and unofficially.

Responsible adults should not hide from problems and, when recognizing early signs of neuropsychiatric disorders in children, promptly consult a doctor and then follow his recommendations. Every parent should have the necessary knowledge in the field of neurotic disorders in order to prevent deviations in the development of their child and, if necessary, seek help at the first signs of a disorder, since issues related to the mental health of children are too serious. It is unacceptable to experiment in treatment on your own, so you should promptly contact specialists for advice.

Often, parents attribute mental disorders in children to age, implying that the child is still small and does not understand what is happening to him. Often this condition is perceived as a normal manifestation of whims, however modern specialists argue that mental disorders are very noticeable to the naked eye. Often these deviations have a negative impact on social opportunities baby and his development. If you seek help in a timely manner, some disorders can be completely cured. If suspicious symptoms are detected in a child in the early stages, serious consequences can be prevented.

Mental disorders in children are divided into 4 classes:

Causes of mental disorders in children

The appearance of mental disorders can be caused by various reasons. Doctors say that their development can be influenced by all sorts of factors: psychological, biological, sociopsychological.

Provoking factors are: genetic predisposition to mental illness, incompatibility in the type of temperament of parent and child, limited intelligence, brain damage, family problems, conflicts, traumatic events. Family education is not the least important.

Mental disorders in children of primary school age often arise due to parental divorce. The risk of mental disorders often increases in children from single-parent families, or if one of the parents has a history of mental illness. To determine what type of help needs to be provided to your baby, you must accurately determine the cause of the problem.

Symptoms of mental disorders in children

These disorders in a baby are diagnosed based on the following symptoms:

anxiety disorders, fears;
tics, obsession syndrome;
ignoring established rules, aggressiveness;
for no apparent reason, frequently changing mood;
decreased interest in active games;
slow and unusual body movements;
deviations associated with impaired thinking;
childhood schizophrenia.

The periods of greatest susceptibility to mental and nervous disorders occur during age-related crises, which cover the following age periods: 3-4 years, 5-7 years, years. From this it is obvious that adolescence and childhood are the right time for the development of psychogenics.

Mental disorders in children under one year of age are caused by the existence of a limited range of negative and positive needs (signals) that children must satisfy: pain, hunger, sleep, the need to cope with natural needs.

All these needs are of vital importance and cannot be unsatisfied, therefore, the more pedantic the parents observe the regime, the faster a positive stereotype is developed. Failure to satisfy one of the needs can lead to a psychogenic cause, and the more violations are noted, the more severe the deprivation. In other words, the reaction of a baby under one year old is determined by the motives of satisfying instincts and, of course, first of all, this is the instinct of self-preservation.

Mental disorders in children 2 years of age are observed if the mother maintains an excessive connection with the child, thereby promoting infantilization and inhibition of its development. Such attempts by the parent, creating obstacles to the child’s self-affirmation, can lead to frustration, as well as elementary psychogenic reactions. While the feeling of overdependence on the mother persists, the child develops passivity. With additional stress, such behavior can take on a pathological character, which often happens in insecure and fearful children.

Mental disorders in 3-year-old children manifest themselves in capriciousness, disobedience, vulnerability, increased fatigue, and irritability. It is necessary to be careful when suppressing the growing activity of a child at the age of 3 years, since this can contribute to a lack of communication and a lack of emotional contact. A lack of emotional contact can lead to autism (withdrawal), speech disorders (delayed speech development, refusal to communicate or verbal contact).

Mental disorders in children 4 years old manifest themselves in stubbornness, protest against the authority of adults, and psychogenic breakdowns. Internal tension, discomfort, sensitivity to deprivation (restriction), which causes frustration, are also noted.

The first neurotic manifestations in 4-year-old children are found in behavioral reactions of refusal and protest. Minor negative influences are enough to disrupt the baby’s mental balance. The baby is able to react to pathological situations and negative events.

Mental disorders in 5-year-old children reveal themselves to be ahead of the mental development of their peers, especially if the child’s interests become one-sided. The reason for seeking help from a psychiatrist should be the loss of previously acquired skills by the child, for example: he rolls cars aimlessly, his vocabulary becomes poorer, he becomes untidy, he stops role-playing games, and communicates little.

Mental disorders in children aged 7 years are associated with preparation and entry into school. Instability of mental balance, fragility of the nervous system, readiness for psychogenic disorders may be present in children 7 years old. The basis for these manifestations is a tendency to psychosomatic asthenia (appetite disturbances, sleep disturbances, fatigue, dizziness, decreased performance, tendency to fear) and overwork.

Classes at school then become the cause of neurosis when the demands placed on the child do not correspond to his capabilities and he lags behind in school subjects.

Mental disorders in children years of age manifest themselves in the following features:

Tendency to sharp fluctuations moods, restlessness, melancholy, anxiety, negativism, impulsiveness, conflict, aggressiveness, conflicting feelings;

Sensitivity to others’ assessment of one’s strength, appearance, skills, abilities, excessive self-confidence, excessive criticality, disregard for the judgments of adults;

A combination of sensitivity with callousness, irritability with painful shyness, desire for recognition with independence;

Refusal of generally accepted rules and deification of random idols, as well as sensual fantasy with dry philosophizing;

Schizoid and cycloid;

The desire for philosophical generalizations, a tendency to extreme positions, internal contradictions in the psyche, the egocentrism of youthful thinking, uncertainty in the level of aspirations, a tendency to theorize, maximalism in assessments, a variety of experiences associated with awakening sexual desire;

Intolerance to care, unmotivated mood swings.

Often the protest of teenagers grows into absurd opposition and senseless stubbornness to any reasonable advice. Self-confidence and arrogance develop.

Signs of mental disorder in children

The likelihood of developing mental disorders in children varies at different ages. Considering that mental development in children is uneven, then certain periods it becomes disharmonious: some functions are formed faster than others.

Signs of mental disorder in children can manifest themselves in the following manifestations:

Feelings of withdrawal and deep sadness lasting more than 2-3 weeks;

Attempts to kill or harm yourself;

All-consuming fear for no reason, accompanied by rapid breathing and a strong heartbeat;

Participation in numerous fights, use of weapons with the desire to harm someone;

Uncontrollable, violent behavior that causes harm to both self and others;

Not eating, using laxatives, or throwing away food to lose weight;

Severe anxiety that interferes with normal activities;

Difficulty concentrating, as well as the inability to sit still, which poses a physical danger;

Use of alcohol or drugs;

Severe mood swings leading to relationship problems;

Changes in behavior.

It is difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis based on these signs alone, so parents should contact a psychotherapist if they discover the above manifestations. These signs do not necessarily have to appear in children with mental disorders.

Treatment of mental problems in children

For help in choosing a treatment method, you should contact a child psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Most disorders need long-term treatment. To treat young patients, the same drugs are used as for adults, but in smaller doses.

How to treat mental disorders in children? Antipsychotics, anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, various stimulants and mood stabilizers are effective in treatment. Family psychotherapy is of great importance: parental attention and love. Parents should not ignore the first signs of disorders developing in a child.

If incomprehensible symptoms appear in a child’s behavior, you can get advice on issues of concern from child psychologists.

Health

To help children who have not been diagnosed with a mental disorder, researchers have released a list 11 warning signs that are easily recognized, which can be used by parents and others.

This list is intended to help fill the gap between the number of children suffering from mental illness and those who actually receive treatment.

Research has shown that three out of four children with mental health problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders and bipolar disorder, go undetected and do not receive proper treatment.

Parents who notice any of the warning signs should contact their pediatrician or mental health professional for a psychiatric evaluation. Researchers hope that the proposed list of symptoms will help parents distinguish normal behavior from signs of mental illness.

"Many people cannot be sure whether their child has a problem."- states Dr. Peter S. Jensen(Dr. Peter S. Jensen), professor of psychiatry. " If a person has a “yes” or “no” answer, then it is easier for him to make a decision."

Identifying a mental disorder early in life will also allow children to receive treatment earlier, making it more effective. For some children, it may take up to 10 years between the time symptoms begin and the time they begin treatment.

To compile the list, the committee reviewed studies on mental disorders that included more than 6,000 children.

Here are 11 warning signs of mental disorders:

1. Feelings of deep sadness or withdrawal that last more than 2-3 weeks.

2. Serious attempts to harm or kill yourself, or plans to do so.

3. Sudden, overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes accompanied by a strong heartbeat and rapid breathing.

4. Participation in many fights, including the use of weapons, or the desire to harm someone.

5. Violent, out-of-control behavior that may cause harm to self or others.

6. Not eating, throwing away food, or using laxatives to lose weight.

7. Severe anxieties and fears that interfere with normal activities.

8. Severe difficulty concentrating or being unable to sit still, which puts you in physical danger or causes you to fail academically.

9. Repeated use of drugs and alcohol.

10. Severe mood swings that lead to relationship problems.

11. Sudden changes in behavior or personality

These signs are not a diagnosis, and for an accurate diagnosis, parents should consult a specialist. In addition, the researchers explained that these signs do not necessarily appear in children with mental disorders.

Mental disorders in children arise due to special factors that provoke developmental disorders of the child’s psyche. The mental health of children is so vulnerable that clinical manifestations and their reversibility depend on the age of the child and the duration of exposure to special factors.

Often, parents attribute mental disorders in children to age, implying that the child is still small and does not understand what is happening to him. This condition is often perceived as a common manifestation of whims, but modern experts argue that mental disorders are very noticeable to the naked eye. Often these deviations have a negative impact on the baby’s social capabilities and development. If you seek help in a timely manner, some disorders can be completely cured. If suspicious symptoms are detected in a child in the early stages, serious consequences can be prevented.

Mental disorders in children are divided into 4 classes:

developmental delays;
early childhood;
attention deficit disorder.

Causes of mental disorders in children

The appearance of mental disorders can be caused by various reasons. Doctors say that their development can be influenced by all sorts of factors: psychological, biological, sociopsychological.

Symptoms of mental disorders in children

These disorders in a baby are diagnosed based on the following symptoms:

tics, obsession syndrome;
ignoring established rules;
for no apparent reason, frequently changing mood;
decreased interest in active games;
slow and unusual body movements;
deviations associated with impaired thinking;

The periods of greatest susceptibility to mental and nervous disorders occur during age-related crises, which cover the following age periods: 3-4 years, 5-7 years, 12-18 years. From this it is obvious that adolescence and childhood are the right time for the development of psychogenics.

All these needs are of vital importance and cannot be unsatisfied, therefore, the more pedantic the parents observe the regime, the faster a positive stereotype is developed. Failure to satisfy one of the needs can lead to a psychogenic cause, and the more violations are noted, the more severe the deprivation. In other words, the reaction of a baby under one year old is determined by the motives of satisfying instincts and, of course, in the very first place, this is the instinct of self-preservation.

Mental disorders in 3-year-old children manifest themselves in capriciousness, disobedience, vulnerability, increased fatigue, and irritability. It is necessary to be careful when suppressing the growing activity of a child at the age of 3 years, since this can contribute to a lack of communication and a lack of emotional contact. A lack of emotional contact can lead to (withdrawal), speech disorders (delayed speech development, refusal to communicate or verbal contact).

Mental disorders in children 4 years old manifest themselves in stubbornness, protest against the authority of adults, and psychogenic breakdowns. Internal tension, discomfort, and sensitivity to deprivation (restriction) are also noted, which causes.

The first neurotic manifestations in 4-year-old children are found in behavioral reactions of refusal and protest. Minor negative influences are enough to disrupt the baby’s mental balance. The baby is able to react to pathological situations and negative events.

Classes at school then become the cause of neurosis when the demands placed on the child do not correspond to his capabilities and he lags behind in school subjects.

Mental disorders in children 12-18 years old manifest themselves in the following features:

- tendency to sudden mood swings, restlessness, melancholy, anxiety, negativism, impulsiveness, conflict, aggressiveness, inconsistency of feelings;

- sensitivity to others’ assessment of one’s strength, appearance, skills, abilities, excessive self-confidence, excessive criticality, disregard for the judgments of adults;

- a combination of sensitivity with callousness, irritability with painful shyness, desire for recognition with independence;

- rejection of generally accepted rules and deification of random idols, as well as sensual fantasy with dry philosophizing;

- schizoid and cycloid;

- the desire for philosophical generalizations, a tendency to extreme positions, internal inconsistency of the psyche, the egocentrism of youthful thinking, uncertainty in the level of aspirations, a tendency to theorize, maximalism in assessments, a variety of experiences associated with awakening sexual desire;

- intolerance to care, unmotivated mood swings.

Often the protest of teenagers grows into absurd opposition and senseless stubbornness to any reasonable advice. Self-confidence and arrogance develop.

Signs of mental disorder in children

The likelihood of developing mental disorders in children varies at different ages. Considering that mental development in children is uneven, in certain periods it becomes disharmonious: some functions are formed faster than others.

Signs of mental disorder in children can manifest themselves in the following manifestations:

- a feeling of isolation and deep sadness that lasts more than 2-3 weeks;

- attempts to kill or harm yourself;

- all-consuming fear for no reason, accompanied by rapid breathing and strong heartbeat;

- participation in numerous fights, use of weapons with the desire to harm someone;

- uncontrollable, cruel behavior that causes harm to both oneself and others;

- refusing to eat, using laxatives, or throwing away food in order to lose weight;

- severe anxiety that interferes with normal activities;

- difficulty concentrating, as well as the inability to sit still, which poses a physical danger;

- use of alcohol or drugs;

- severe mood swings leading to relationship problems;

- changes in behavior.

Treatment of mental problems in children

For help in choosing a treatment method, you should contact a child psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Most disorders require long-term treatment. To treat young patients, the same drugs are used as for adults, but in smaller doses.

How to treat mental disorders in children? Antipsychotics, anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, various stimulants and mood stabilizers are effective in treatment. Of great importance: parental attention and love. Parents should not ignore the first signs of disorders developing in a child.

If incomprehensible symptoms appear in a child’s behavior, you can get advice on issues of concern from child psychologists.

In childhood, a variety of diseases can manifest themselves - neuroses, schizophrenia, epilepsy, exogenous brain damage. Although the main signs of these diseases that are most important for diagnosis appear at any age, the symptoms in children are somewhat different from those observed in adults. However, there are a number of disorders that are specific to childhood, although some of them may persist throughout a person’s life. These disorders reflect disturbances in the natural course of development of the body; they are relatively stable; significant fluctuations in the child’s condition (remissions) are usually not observed, as well as a sharp increase in symptoms. As they develop, some of the anomalies can be compensated or disappear altogether. Most of the disorders described below occur more often in boys.

Childhood autism

Childhood autism (Kanner syndrome) occurs with a frequency of 0.02-0.05%. It occurs 3-5 times more often in boys than in girls. Although developmental abnormalities can be identified in infancy, the disease is usually diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 5 years, when social communication skills are developing. The classic description of this disorder [Kanner L., 1943] includes extreme isolation, a desire for loneliness, difficulties in emotional communication with others, inadequate use of gestures, intonation and facial expressions when expressing emotions, deviations in the development of speech with a tendency to repeat, echolalia, incorrect use of pronouns (“you” instead of “I”), monotonous repetition of noise and words, decreased spontaneous activity, stereotypy, mannerisms. These disorders are combined with excellent mechanical memory and an obsessive desire to keep everything unchanged, fear of change, the desire to achieve completeness in any action, and a preference for communicating with objects over communicating with people. The danger is represented by the tendency of these patients to self-harm (biting, pulling out hair, hitting the head). At high school age, epileptic seizures often occur. Concomitant mental retardation is observed in 2/3 of patients. It is noted that the disorder often occurs after an intrauterine infection (rubella). These facts support the organic nature of the disease. A similar syndrome, but without intellectual impairment, was described by H. Asperger (1944), who considered it as hereditary disease(concordance in identical twins up to 35%). Di This disorder must be differentiated from oligophrenia and childhood schizophrenia. The prognosis depends on the severity of the organic defect. Most patients show some improvement in behavior with age. For treatment, special teaching methods, psychotherapy, small doses haloperidol.

Childhood hyperkinetic disorder

Hyperkinetic behavior disorder (hyperdynamic syndrome) is relatively frequent violation development (from 3 to 8% of all children). The ratio of boys to girls is 5:1. Characterized by extreme activity, mobility, and impaired attention, which prevents regular classes and the assimilation of school material. The work started, as a rule, is not completed; with good mental abilities, children quickly cease to be interested in the task, lose and forget things, get into fights, cannot sit in front of the TV screen, constantly pester others with questions, push, pinch and pull parents and peers. It is assumed that the disorder is based on minimal brain dysfunction, but clear signs of a psychoorganic syndrome are almost never observed. In most cases, behavior normalizes between the ages of 12 and 20, but to prevent the formation of persistent psychopathic antisocial traits, treatment should begin as early as possible. Therapy is based on persistent, structured education (strict control by parents and educators, regular exercise). In addition to psychotherapy, psychotropic drugs are also used. Nootropic drugs are widely used - piracetam, pantogam, phenibut, encephabol. Most patients experience a paradoxical improvement in behavior with the use of psychostimulants (sydnocarb, caffeine, phenamine derivatives, stimulating antidepressants - imipramine and sydnophen). When using phenamine derivatives, temporary growth retardation and loss of body weight are occasionally observed, and dependence may form.

Isolated delays in skill development

Children often experience an isolated delay in the development of any skill: speech, reading, writing or counting, motor functions. Unlike oligophrenia, which is characterized by a uniform lag in the development of all mental functions, with the disorders listed above, usually, as one gets older, there is a significant improvement in the condition and a smoothing of the existing lag, although some disorders may remain in adults. Pedagogical methods are used for correction.

ICD-10 includes several rare syndromes, presumably of an organic nature, arising in childhood and accompanied by an isolated disorder of certain skills.

Landau-Kleffner syndrome manifests itself as a catastrophic impairment of pronunciation and speech understanding at the age of 3-7 years after a period of normal development. Most patients experience epileptiform seizures, and almost all have EEG abnormalities with mono- or bilateral temporal pathological epiactivity. Recovery is observed in 1/3 of cases.

Rett syndrome occurs only in girls. It is manifested by loss of manual skills and speech, combined with delayed head growth, enuresis, encopresis and attacks of shortness of breath, sometimes epileptic seizures. The disease occurs at the age of 7-24 months against the background of relatively favorable development. At a later age, ataxia, scoliosis and kyphoscoliosis occur. The disease leads to severe disability.

Disorders of certain physiological functions in children

Enuresis, encopresis, eating inedible (pica), stuttering can occur as independent disorders or (more often) are symptoms of childhood neuroses and organic brain lesions. Often, several of these disorders or their combination with tics can be observed in the same child at different ages.

Stuttering It occurs quite often in children. It is indicated that transient stuttering occurs in 4%, and persistent stuttering occurs in 1% of children, more often in boys (in various studies the gender ratio is estimated from 2:1 to 10:1). Typically, stuttering occurs at the age of 4 - 5 years against the background of normal mental development. 17% of patients have a hereditary history of stuttering. There are neurotic variants of stuttering with a psychogenic onset (after fright, against the background of severe intra-family conflicts) and organically caused (dysontogenetic) variants. The prognosis for neurotic stuttering is much more favorable; after puberty, the disappearance of symptoms or smoothing is observed in 90% of patients. Neurotic stuttering is closely related to traumatic events and personal characteristics of patients (anxious and suspicious traits predominate). Characterized by increased symptoms in situations of great responsibility and difficult experience of one’s illness. Quite often, this type of stuttering is accompanied by other symptoms of neurosis (logoneurosis): sleep disturbances, tearfulness, irritability, fatigue, fear of public speaking (logophobia). The long-term existence of symptoms can lead to pathological personality development with an increase in asthenic and pseudoschizoid traits. The organically conditioned (dysontogenetic) variant of stuttering gradually develops regardless of traumatic situations; psychological experiences regarding the existing speech defect are less pronounced. Other signs of organic pathology are often observed (disseminated neurological symptoms, changes in the EEG). Stuttering itself has a more stereotypical, monotonous character, reminiscent of tic-like hyperkinesis. Increased symptoms are associated more with additional exogenous hazards (injuries, infections, intoxications) than with psycho-emotional stress. Treatment of stuttering should be carried out in collaboration with a speech therapist. In the neurotic version, speech therapy sessions should be preceded by relaxation psychotherapy (“silence mode”, family psychotherapy, hypnosis, auto-training and other suggestions, group psychotherapy). In the treatment of organic options, great importance is attached to the administration of nootropics and muscle relaxants (mydocalm).

Enuresis at various stages of development is observed in 12% of boys and 7% of girls. The diagnosis of enuresis is made in children over 4 years of age; in adults, this disorder is rarely observed (up to 18 years of age, enuresis persists in only 1% of boys, and is not observed in girls). Some researchers note the participation of hereditary factors in the occurrence of this pathology. It is proposed to distinguish between primary (dysontogenetic) enuresis, which manifests itself in the fact that a normal rhythm of urination is not established from infancy, and secondary (neurotic) enuresis, which occurs in children against the background of psychological trauma after several years of normal regulation of urination. The latter variant of enuresis proceeds more favorably and by the end of puberty in most cases disappears. Neurotic (secondary) enuresis, as a rule, is accompanied by other symptoms of neurosis - fears, timidity. These patients often react acutely emotionally to the existing disorder; additional mental trauma provokes an increase in symptoms. Primary (dysontogenetic) enuresis is often combined with mild neurological symptoms and signs of dysontogenesis (spina bifida, prognathia, epicanthus, etc.), and partial mental infantilism is often observed. There is a calmer attitude towards their defect, strict frequency, not related to the immediate psychological situation. Urination during nocturnal attacks of epilepsy should be distinguished from inorganic enuresis. For differential diagnosis, an EEG is examined. Some authors consider primary enuresis as a sign predisposing to the occurrence of epilepsy [Shprecher B.L., 1975]. To treat neurotic (secondary) enuresis, calming psychotherapy, hypnosis and auto-training are used. Patients with enuresis are advised to reduce fluid intake before bedtime, as well as eat foods that promote water retention in the body (salty and sweet foods).

Tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, amitriptyline) for enuresis in children have a good effect in most cases. Enuresis often goes away without special treatment.

Tiki

Tiki occur in 4.5% of boys and 2.6% of girls, usually at the age of 7 years and older, usually do not progress and in some patients disappear completely upon reaching maturity. Anxiety, fear, attention from others, and the use of psychostimulants intensify tics and can provoke them in an adult who has recovered from tics. A connection between tics and neurosis is often found obsessive states in children. You should always carefully differentiate tics from other movement disorders (hyperkinesis), which are often a symptom of severe progressive nervous diseases (parkinsonism, Huntingdon's chorea, Wilson's disease, Lesch-Nychen syndrome, chorea minor, etc.). Unlike hyperkinesis, tics can be suppressed by force of will. The children themselves treat them as a bad habit. Family psychotherapy, hypnosuggestion and autogenic training. It is recommended to involve the child in activities that are interesting to him motor activity(for example, playing sports). If psychotherapy is unsuccessful, mild antipsychotics are prescribed (Sonapax, Etaparazine, Halotteridol in small doses).

A serious illness manifested by chronic tics isGilles de la Tourette syndrome The disease begins in childhood (usually between 2 and 10 years); in boys 3-4 times more often than in girls. Initially, tics appear in the form of blinking, head twitching, and grimacing. After a few years in adolescence, vocal and complex motor tics appear, often changing localization, sometimes having an aggressive or sexual component. Coprolalia (swear words) is observed in 1/3 of cases. Patients are characterized by a combination of impulsiveness and obsessions, and a decreased ability to concentrate. The disease is hereditary in nature. There is an accumulation among relatives of sick patients with chronic tics and obsessional neurosis. There is a high concordance in identical twins (50-90%), and about 10% in fraternal twins. Treatment is based on the use of antipsychotics (haloperidol, pimozide) and clonidine in minimal doses. The presence of excessive obsessions also requires the prescription of antidepressants (fluoxetine, clomipramine). Pharmacotherapy helps control the condition of patients, but does not cure the disease. Sometimes the effectiveness of drug treatment decreases over time.

Peculiarities of manifestation of major mental illnesses in children

Schizophrenia with onset in childhood, it differs from typical variants of the disease by a more malignant course, a significant predominance of negative symptoms over productive disorders. Early onset of the disease is more often observed in boys (sex ratio is 3.5:1). In children it is very rare to see such typical manifestations of schizophrenia as delusions of influence and pseudohallucinations. Disorders of the motor sphere and behavior predominate: catatonic and hebephrenic symptoms, disinhibition of drives or, conversely, passivity and indifference. All symptoms are characterized by simplicity and stereotyping. The monotonous nature of the games, their stereotyping and schematism are noteworthy. Often children select special objects for games (wires, forks, shoes) and neglect toys. Sometimes there is a surprising one-sidedness of interests (see a clinical example illustrating body dysmorphomania syndrome in section 5.3).

Although typical signs schizophrenic defect (lack of initiative, autism, indifferent or hostile attitude towards parents) can be observed in almost all patients, they are often combined with a kind of mental retardation, reminiscent of mental retardation. E. Kraepelin (1913) identified as an independent formpfropfschizophrenia, combining features of oligophrenia and schizophrenia with a predominance of hebephrenic symptoms. Occasionally, forms of the disease are observed in which mental development preceding the manifestation of schizophrenia occurs, on the contrary, at an accelerated pace: children begin to read and count early, and are interested in books that do not correspond to their age. In particular, it has been noted that the paranoid form of schizophrenia is often preceded by premature intellectual development.

At puberty, frequent signs of the onset of schizophrenia are dysmorphomanic syndrome and symptoms of depersonalization. The slow progression of symptoms and the absence of obvious hallucinations and delusions may resemble neurosis. However, unlike neuroses, such symptoms do not depend in any way on existing stressful situations and develop autochthonously. Rituals and senestopathies are early added to the typical symptoms of neuroses (fears, obsessions).

Affective insanity does not occur in early childhood. Distinct affective attacks can be observed in children at least 12-14 years old. Quite rarely, children may complain of feeling sad. More often, depression manifests itself as somatovegetative disorders, sleep and appetite disorders, and constipation. Depression may be indicated by persistent lethargy, slowness, unpleasant sensations in the body, moodiness, tearfulness, refusal to play and communicate with peers, and a feeling of worthlessness. Hypomanic states are more noticeable to others. They manifest themselves with unexpected activity, talkativeness, restlessness, disobedience, decreased attention, and inability to balance actions with their own strengths and capabilities. In adolescents, more often than in adult patients, a continuous course of the disease is observed with a constant change in affective phases.

Young children rarely show clear patterns neurosis. More often, short-term neurotic reactions are observed due to fear, an unpleasant prohibition from the parents for the child. The likelihood of such reactions is higher in children with symptoms of residual organic failure. It is not always possible to clearly identify variants of neuroses characteristic of adults (neurasthenia, hysteria, obsessive-phobic neurosis) in children. Noteworthy are the incompleteness and rudimentary nature of the symptoms and the predominance of somatovegetative and movement disorders (enuresis, stuttering, tics). G.E. Sukhareva (1955) emphasized that the pattern is that the younger the child, the more monotonous the symptoms of neurosis.

A fairly common manifestation of childhood neuroses is a variety of fears. In early childhood, this is a fear of animals, fairy-tale characters, movie heroes; in preschool and primary school age - fear of darkness, loneliness, separation from parents, death of parents, anxious anticipation of upcoming school work; in adolescents - hypochondriacal and dysmorphophobic thoughts, sometimes fear of death . Phobias more often occur in children with an anxious and suspicious character and increased impressionability, suggestibility, and timidity. The emergence of fears is facilitated by hyperprotection on the part of parents, which consists of constant anxious fears for the child. Unlike obsessions in adults, children's phobias are not accompanied by a consciousness of alienation and pain. As a rule, there is no purposeful desire to get rid of fears. Obsessive thoughts, memories, and obsessive counting are not typical for children. Abundant ideationary, non-emotionally charged obsessions, accompanied by rituals and isolation, require differential diagnosis with schizophrenia.

Unfolded paintings hysterical neurosis it is also not observed in children. More often you can see affective respiratory attacks with loud crying, at the height of which respiratory arrest and cyanosis develop. Psychogenic selective mutism is sometimes noted. The reason for such reactions may be a parental prohibition. Unlike hysteria in adults, children's hysterical psychogenic reactions occur in boys and girls with the same frequency.

The basic principles of treating mental disorders in childhood do not differ significantly from the methods used in adults. Psychopharmacotherapy is the leader in the treatment of endogenous diseases. In the treatment of neuroses, psychotropic drugs are combined with psychotherapy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bashina V.M. Early childhood schizophrenia (statics and dynamics). - 2nd ed. - M.: Medicine, 1989. - 256 p.
Guryeva V.A., Semke V.Ya., Gindikin V.Ya. Psychopathology of adolescence. - Tomsk, 1994. - 310 p.
Zakharov A.I. Neuroses in children and adolescents: anamnesis, etiology and pathogenesis. - JL: Medicine, 1988.
Kagan V.E. Autism in children. - M.: Medicine, 1981. - 206 p.
Kaplan G.I., Sadok B.J. Clinical psychiatry: Per. from English - T. 2. - M.: Medicine, 1994. - 528 p.
Kovalev V.V. Childhood psychiatry: A guide for doctors. - M.: Medicine, 1979. - 607 p.
Kovalev V.V. Semiotics and diagnosis of mental illness in children and adolescents. - M.: Medicine, 1985. - 288 p.
Oudtshoorn D.N. Child and adolescent psychiatry: Trans. from the Netherlands. / Ed. AND I. Gurovich. - M., 1993. - 319 p.
Psychiatry: Transl. from English / Ed. R. Shader. - M.: Praktika, 1998. - 485 p.
Simeon T.P. Schizophrenia in early childhood. - M.: Medgiz, 1948. - 134 p.
Sukhareva G.E. Lectures on childhood psychiatry. - M.: Medicine, 1974. - 320 p.
Ushakov T.K. Child psychiatry. - M.: Medicine, 1973. - 392 p.

Mental illnesses are characterized by changes in the consciousness and thinking of the individual. At the same time, a person’s behavior, his perception of the world around him, and emotional reactions to what is happening are significantly disrupted. A list of common mental diseases with descriptions highlights the possible causes of pathologies, their main clinical manifestations and treatment methods.

Agoraphobia

The disease belongs to anxiety-phobic disorders. Characterized by a fear of open space, public places, crowds of people. Often the phobia is accompanied by autonomic symptoms (tachycardia, sweating, difficulty breathing, chest pain, tremors, etc.). Panic attacks are possible, which force the patient to abandon their usual way of life for fear of a recurrence of the attack. Agoraphobia is treated with psychotherapeutic methods and medication.

Alcoholic dementia

It is a complication of chronic alcoholism. At the last stage, without therapy it can lead to the death of the patient. The pathology develops gradually with the progression of symptoms. There are memory impairments, including memory failures, isolation, loss of intellectual abilities, and loss of control over one’s actions. Without medical care, personality decay, speech, thinking, and consciousness disorders are observed. Treatment is carried out in drug treatment hospitals. Refusal of alcohol is required.

Allotriophagy

A mental disorder in which a person tends to eat inedible things (chalk, dirt, paper, chemical substances and others). This phenomenon occurs in patients with various mental illnesses (psychopathy, schizophrenia, etc.), sometimes in healthy people (during pregnancy), and in children (aged 1-6 years). The causes of the pathology may be a lack of minerals in the body, cultural traditions, or the desire to attract attention. Treatment is carried out using psychotherapy techniques.

Anorexia

A mental disorder resulting from a disruption in the functioning of the food center of the brain. It manifests itself as a pathological desire to lose weight (even at low weight), lack of appetite, and fear of obesity. The patient refuses to eat and uses all sorts of ways to reduce body weight (diet, enemas, inducing vomiting, excessive exercise). Arrhythmias, menstrual irregularities, spasms, weakness and other symptoms are observed. In severe cases, irreversible changes in the body and death are possible.

Autism

Childhood mental illness. Characterized by impaired social interaction, motor skills, and speech dysfunctions. Most scientists classify autism as a hereditary mental disease. The diagnosis is made based on observation of the child's behavior. Manifestations of pathology: the patient’s unresponsiveness to speech, instructions from other people, poor visual contact with them, lack of facial expressions, smiles, delayed speech skills, detachment. Methods of speech therapy, behavioral correction, drug therapy.

White fever

Alcoholic psychosis, manifested by behavioral disturbances, anxiety of the patient, visual, auditory, tactile hallucinations, due to dysfunction of metabolic processes in the brain. The causes of delirium are an abrupt interruption of a long drinking binge, a large one-time volume of alcohol consumed, and low-quality alcohol. The patient has body tremors, high fever, and pale skin. Treatment is carried out in a psychiatric hospital and includes detoxification therapy, taking psychotropic drugs, vitamins, etc.

Alzheimer's disease

It is an incurable mental illness, characterized by degeneration of the nervous system and gradual loss of mental abilities. Pathology is one of the causes of dementia in older people (over 65 years old). It manifests itself as progressive memory impairment, disorientation, and apathy. On late stages hallucinations, loss of independent thinking and motor abilities, and sometimes convulsions are observed. It is possible that disability due to mental illness Alzheimer's will be granted for life.

Pick's disease

A rare mental disease with a predominant localization in the frontotemporal lobes of the brain. Clinical manifestations of pathology go through 3 stages. At the first, antisocial behavior is noted (public implementation of physiological needs, hypersexuality and the like), decreased criticism and control of actions, repetition of words and phrases. The second stage is manifested by cognitive dysfunction, loss of reading, writing, counting skills, and sensorimotor aphasia. The third stage is deep dementia (immobility, disorientation), leading to the death of a person.

Bulimia

A mental disorder characterized by uncontrollable overconsumption food. The patient is focused on food, diets (breakdowns are accompanied by gluttony and guilt), his weight, and suffers from bouts of hunger that cannot be satisfied. In the severe form, there are significant weight fluctuations (5-10 kg up and down), swelling of the parotid gland, fatigue, tooth loss, and irritation in the throat. This mental disease often occurs in adolescents, people under 30 years of age, mainly in women.

Hallucinosis

A mental disorder characterized by the presence in a person of various types of hallucinations without impairment of consciousness. They can be verbal (the patient hears a monologue or dialogue), visual (visions), olfactory (sensation of smells), tactile (the feeling of insects, worms, etc. crawling under the skin or on it). The pathology is caused by exogenous factors (infections, injuries, intoxications), organic brain damage, and schizophrenia.

Dementia

A severe mental illness characterized by progressive degradation of cognitive function. There is a gradual loss of memory (up to complete loss), thinking abilities, and speech. Disorientation and loss of control over actions are noted. The occurrence of pathology is typical for older people, but is not a normal condition of aging. Therapy is aimed at slowing down the process of personality disintegration and optimizing cognitive functions.

Depersonalization

According to medical reference books and the international classification of diseases, pathology is classified as neurotic disorders. The condition is characterized by a violation of self-awareness, alienation of the individual. The patient perceives the world, your body, activity, thinking unreal, existing autonomously from it. There may be disturbances in taste, hearing, pain sensitivity, etc. Periodic similar sensations are not considered a pathology, however, treatment (medication and psychotherapy) is required for a protracted, persistent state of derealization.

Depression

A serious mental illness, which is characterized by a depressed mood, lack of joy, and positive thinking. In addition to the emotional signs of depression (sadness, despair, feelings of guilt, etc.), there are physiological symptoms (impaired appetite, sleep, pain and other unpleasant sensations in the body, digestive dysfunction, fatigue) and behavioral manifestations (passivity, apathy, desire for solitude, alcoholism And so on). Treatment includes medications and psychotherapy.

Dissociative fugue

An acute mental disorder in which the patient, under the influence of traumatic incidents, suddenly renounces his personality (completely losing memories of it), inventing a new one for himself. The patient's departure from home is necessarily present, while mental abilities, professional skills, and character are preserved. The new life can be short (a few hours) or last a long time (months and years). Then there is a sudden (rarely gradual) return to the previous personality, while the memories of the new one are completely lost.

Stuttering

Committing convulsive actions of the articulatory and laryngeal muscles when pronouncing speech, distorting it and making it difficult to pronounce words. Typically, stuttering occurs at the very beginning of phrases, less often in the middle, while the patient lingers on one or a group of sounds. The pathology may rarely recur (paroxysmal) or be permanent. There are neurotic (in healthy children under the influence of stress) and neurosis-like (in diseases of the central nervous system) forms of the disease. Treatment includes psychotherapy, speech therapy for stuttering, and drug therapy.

gambling addiction

A mental disorder characterized by addiction to games and a desire for excitement. Among the types of gambling addiction there are pathological addiction to gambling in casinos, computer games, network games, slot machines, sweepstakes, lotteries, sales on foreign exchange and stock markets. Manifestations of pathology include an irresistible constant desire to play, the patient withdraws, deceives loved ones, mental disorders and irritability are noted. Often this phenomenon leads to depression.

Idiocy

Congenital mental illness characterized by mental retardation severe course. It is observed from the first weeks of a newborn’s life and is manifested by a significant progressive lag in psychomotor development. Patients lack speech and its understanding, ability to think, and emotional reactions. Children do not recognize their parents, cannot master primitive skills, and grow up absolutely helpless. Often the pathology is combined with anomalies in the physical development of the child. Treatment is based on symptomatic therapy.

Imbecility

Significant mental retardation (mental retardation) moderate severity). Patients have weak learning abilities (primitive speech, however, it is possible to read syllables and understand counting), poor memory, and primitive thinking. There is an excessive manifestation of unconscious instincts (sexual, food), and antisocial behavior. It is possible to learn self-care skills (through repetition), but such patients are not able to live independently. Treatment is based on symptomatic therapy.

Hypochondria

A neuropsychic disorder based on the patient’s excessive worries about his health. In this case, manifestations of pathology can be sensory (exaggeration of sensations) or ideogenic (false ideas about sensations in the body that can cause changes in it: cough, stool disorders, and others). The disorder is based on self-hypnosis, its main cause is neurosis, sometimes organic pathologies. An effective method of treatment is psychotherapy with the use of medications.

Hysteria

Complex neurosis, which is characterized by states of passion, pronounced emotional reactions, and somatovegetative manifestations. There is no organic damage to the central nervous system, the disorders are considered reversible. The patient strives to attract attention, has an unstable mood, and may experience motor dysfunction (paralysis, paresis, unsteadiness of gait, head twitching). A hysterical attack is accompanied by a cascade of expressive movements (falling on the floor and rolling on it, tearing out hair, twisting limbs, etc.).

Kleptomania

An irresistible urge to steal someone else's property. Moreover, the crime is committed not for the purpose of material enrichment, but mechanically, with a momentary impulse. The patient is aware of the illegality and abnormality of addiction, sometimes tries to resist it, acts alone and does not develop plans, does not steal out of revenge or for similar reasons. Before the theft, the patient experiences a feeling of tension and anticipation of pleasure; after the crime, the feeling of euphoria persists for some time.

Cretinism

Pathology arising from dysfunction thyroid gland, characterized by retardation of mental and physical development. All causes of cretinism are based on hypothyroidism. It can be a congenital or acquired pathology during the development of the child. The disease manifests itself as retarded growth of the body (dwarfism), teeth (and their replacement), disproportionality of the structure, and underdevelopment of secondary sexual characteristics. Hearing, speech, and intellectual impairments are noted to varying degrees gravity. Treatment consists of lifelong use of hormones.

"Cultural" shock

Negative emotional and physical reactions provoked by a change in a person’s cultural environment. At the same time, a collision with a different culture, an unfamiliar place causes discomfort and disorientation in the individual. The condition develops gradually. At first, a person perceives new conditions positively and optimistically, then the stage of “culture” shock begins with the awareness of certain problems. Gradually, the person comes to terms with the situation, and depression recedes. The last stage is characterized by successful adaptation to the new culture.

Mania of persecution

A mental disorder in which the patient feels being watched and threatened with harm. The pursuers are people, animals, unreal beings, inanimate objects, etc. The pathology goes through 3 stages of formation: initially the patient is worried about anxiety, he becomes withdrawn. Further, the symptoms become more pronounced, the patient refuses to go to work or close circle. At the third stage, a severe disorder occurs, accompanied by aggression, depression, suicide attempts, etc.

Misanthropy

Mental disorder associated with alienation from society, rejection, hatred of people. It manifests itself as unsociability, suspicion, distrust, anger, and enjoyment of one’s state of misanthropy. This psychophysiological personality trait can turn into antrophobia (fear of a person). People suffering from psychopathy, delusions of persecution, and after suffering bouts of schizophrenia are prone to pathology.

Monomania

Excessive obsessive commitment to an idea, a subject. It is a single-subject insanity, a single mental disorder. At the same time, the preservation of mental health in patients is noted. This term is absent in modern classifiers of diseases, since it is considered a relic of psychiatry. Sometimes used to refer to psychosis characterized by a single disorder (hallucinations or delusions).

Obsessive states

A mental illness characterized by the presence of persistent thoughts, fears, and actions regardless of the will of the patient. The patient is fully aware of the problem, but cannot overcome his condition. Pathology manifests itself in obsessive thoughts (absurd, scary), counting (involuntary recounting), memories (usually unpleasant), fears, actions (meaningless repetition), rituals, etc. Treatment uses psychotherapy, medications, and physiotherapy.

Narcissistic personality disorder

Excessive personal experience of one’s importance. Combined with the requirement of increased attention to oneself and admiration. The disorder is based on the fear of failure, the fear of being of little value and defenseless. Personal behavior is aimed at confirming one’s own value; a person constantly talks about his merits, social, material status or mental, physical abilities, etc. Long-term psychotherapy is required to correct the disorder.

Neurosis

Collective term describing a group psychogenic disorders reversible, usually not severe, course. The main cause of the condition is stress and excessive mental stress. Patients are aware of the abnormality of their condition. Clinical signs of pathology are emotional (mood swings, vulnerability, irritability, tearfulness, etc.) and physical (cardiac dysfunction, digestion, tremor, headache, difficulty breathing, etc.) manifestations.

Mental retardation

Congenital or acquired at an early age mental retardation caused by organic damage brain. It is a common pathology, manifested by impairments of intelligence, speech, memory, will, emotional reactions, motor dysfunctions of varying severity, and somatic disorders. The thinking of patients remains at the level of children younger age. Self-care abilities are present, but reduced.

Panic attacks

A panic attack accompanied by severe fear, anxiety, and vegetative symptoms. The causes of pathology are stress, difficult life circumstances, chronic fatigue, use of certain medications, mental and physical diseases or conditions (pregnancy, postpartum period, menopause, adolescence). In addition to emotional manifestations (fear, panic), there are vegetative ones: arrhythmias, tremors, difficulty breathing, painful sensations in various parts of the body (chest, abdomen), derealization, etc.

Paranoia

A mental disorder characterized by excessive suspicion. Patients pathologically see a conspiracy, evil intent directed against them. At the same time, in other areas of activity and thinking, the patient’s adequacy is fully preserved. Paranoia can be a consequence of certain mental illnesses, brain degeneration, or medications. Treatment is predominantly medicinal (neuroleptics with anti-delusional effect). Psychotherapy is ineffective because the doctor is perceived as a participant in the conspiracy.

Pyromania

A mental disorder characterized by the patient’s irresistible craving for arson. Arson is committed impulsively, in the absence of full awareness of the act. The patient experiences pleasure from performing the action and observing the fire. At the same time, there is no material benefit from arson, it is committed confidently, the pyromaniac is tense, fixated on the topic of fires. When observing the flame, sexual arousal is possible. Treatment is complex, since pyromaniacs often have serious mental disorders.

Psychoses

A severe mental disorder is accompanied by delusional states, mood swings, hallucinations (auditory, olfactory, visual, tactile, gustatory), agitation or apathy, depression, aggression. At the same time, the patient lacks control over his actions and criticism. The causes of pathology include infections, alcoholism and drug addiction, stress, psychotrauma, age-related changes (senile psychosis), dysfunction of the central nervous and endocrine systems.

Self-injurious behavior (Patomimia)

A mental disorder in which a person intentionally causes damage to himself (wounds, cuts, bites, burns), but their traces are defined as a skin disease. In this case, there may be a tendency to injure the skin and mucous membranes, damage to nails, hair, and lips. Neurotic excoriation (skin scratching) is often encountered in psychiatric practice. Pathology is characterized by the systematicity of causing damage using the same method. To treat pathology, psychotherapy is used using medications.

Seasonal depression

Mood disorder, its depression, a feature of which is the seasonal frequency of the pathology. There are 2 forms of the disease: “winter” and “summer” depression. The pathology becomes most common in regions with short daylight hours. Manifestations include depressed mood, fatigue, anhedonia, pessimism, decreased libido, thoughts of suicide, death, and vegetative symptoms. Treatment includes psychotherapy and medication.

Sexual perversions

Pathological forms of sexual desire and distortion of its implementation. Sexual perversions include sadism, masochism, exhibitionism, pedo-, bestiality, homosexuality, etc. With true perversions, a perverted way of realizing sexual desire becomes the only possible way for the patient to obtain satisfaction, completely replacing normal sexual life. Pathology can form due to psychopathy, mental retardation, organic lesions of the central nervous system, etc.

Senesthopathy

Unpleasant sensations of varying content and severity on the surface of the body or in the area of internal organs. The patient feels burning, twisting, pulsation, heat, cold, burning pain, drilling, etc. Usually the sensations are localized in the head, less often in the abdomen, chest, and limbs. There is no objective reason for this pathological process, which could evoke similar feelings. The condition usually occurs against the background of mental disorders (neurosis, psychosis, depression). Therapy requires treatment of the underlying disease.

Negative Twin Syndrome

A mental disorder in which the patient is convinced that he or someone close to him has been replaced by an absolute double. In the first option, the patient claims that a person exactly identical to him is to blame for the bad actions he has committed. Delusions of a negative double occur in autoscopic (the patient sees the double) and Capgras syndrome (the double is invisible). Pathology often accompanies mental illness (schizophrenia) and neurological diseases.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Dysfunction of the large intestine, characterized by the presence of symptoms that bother the patient for a long period (more than six months). The pathology is manifested by abdominal pain (usually before defecation and disappearing after), bowel dysfunction (constipation, diarrhea or their alternation), and sometimes autonomic disorders. A psycho-neurogenic mechanism for the formation of the disease is noted; intestinal infections, hormonal fluctuations, and visceral hyperalgesia are also identified among the causes. Symptoms usually do not progress over time and there is no weight loss.

Syndrome chronic fatigue

Constant, long-term (more than six months) physical and mental fatigue, which persists after sleep and even several days of rest. It usually begins with an infectious disease, but is also observed after recovery. Manifestations include weakness, periodic headaches, insomnia (often), impaired performance, possible weight loss, hypochondria, and depression. Treatment includes stress reduction, psychotherapy, and relaxation techniques.

Syndrome emotional burnout

A state of mental, moral and physical exhaustion. The main reasons for the phenomenon are regular stressful situations, monotony of actions, intense rhythm, a feeling of underappreciation, and undeserved criticism. Manifestations of the condition include chronic fatigue, irritability, weakness, migraines, dizziness, and insomnia. Treatment consists of observing a work-rest regime; it is recommended to take a vacation and take breaks from work.

Vascular dementia

Progressive decline in intelligence and disruption of adaptation in society. The cause is damage to areas of the brain due to vascular pathologies: hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, etc. The pathology manifests itself as a violation of cognitive abilities, memory, control over actions, deterioration of thinking, and understanding of spoken speech. In vascular dementia there is a combination of cognitive and neurological disorders. The prognosis of the disease depends on the severity of brain damage.

Stress and disorder adaptation

Stress is the reaction of the human body to excessively strong stimuli. Moreover, this condition can be physiological and psychological. It should be noted that with the latter option, stress is caused by both negative and positive emotions strong degree of expression. Adaptation disorder is observed during the period of adaptation to changing living conditions under the influence of various factors (loss of loved ones, serious illness, etc.). At the same time, there is a connection between stress and adaptation disorder (no more than 3 months).

Suicidal behavior

A pattern of thoughts or actions aimed at self-destruction in order to escape life's problems. Suicidal behavior includes 3 forms: completed suicide (ended in death), attempted suicide (not completed for various reasons), suicidal action (committing actions with a low probability of lethality). The last 2 options often become a request for help, and not a real way to die. Patients must be under constant supervision and treatment is carried out in a psychiatric hospital.

Madness

The term means severe mental illness (insanity). Rarely used in psychiatry, usually used in colloquial speech. By the nature of its impact on the environment, madness can be useful (the gift of foresight, inspiration, ecstasy, etc.) and dangerous (rage, aggression, mania, hysteria). According to the form of the pathology, they distinguish between melancholy (depression, apathy, emotional distress), mania (hyperexcitability, unjustified euphoria, excessive mobility), hysteria (reactions of increased excitability, aggressiveness).

Tafophilia

A disorder of attraction, characterized by a pathological interest in the cemetery, its paraphernalia and everything connected with it: tombstones, epitaphs, stories about death, funerals, etc. There are varying degrees of craving: from mild interest to obsession, manifested in a constant search for information, frequent visits to cemeteries, funerals, and so on. Unlike thanatophilia and necrophilia, with this pathology there are no predilections for a dead body or sexual arousal. Funeral rites and their paraphernalia are of primary interest in taphophilia.

Anxiety

An emotional reaction of the body, which is expressed by concern, anticipation of troubles, and fear of them. Pathological anxiety can occur against a background of complete well-being, may be short-lived or be a stable personality trait. It manifests itself as tension, expressed anxiety, a feeling of helplessness, loneliness. Physically, tachycardia, increased breathing, increased blood pressure, hyperexcitability, and sleep disturbances may be observed. Psychotherapeutic techniques are effective in treatment.

Trichotillomania

A mental disorder that relates to obsessive-compulsive neurosis. It manifests itself as a urge to pull out one’s own hair, and in some cases, to subsequently eat it. It usually appears against a background of idleness, sometimes during stress, and is more common in women and children (2-6 years). Hair pulling is accompanied by tension, which then gives way to satisfaction. The act of pulling out is usually done unconsciously. In the vast majority of cases, pulling is carried out from the scalp, less often - in the area of eyelashes, eyebrows and other hard-to-reach places.

Hikikomori

A pathological condition in which a person renounces social life, resorting to complete self-isolation (in an apartment, room) for a period of more than six months. Such people refuse to work, communicate with friends, relatives, are usually dependent on loved ones or receive unemployment benefits. This phenomenon is a common symptom of depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and autistic disorders. Self-isolation is developing gradually; if necessary, people still go out into the outside world.

Phobia

Pathological irrational fear, reactions to which worsen when exposed to provoking factors. Phobias are characterized by an obsessive, persistent course, while the person avoids frightening objects, activities, etc. Pathology can be of varying degrees of severity and is observed both in minor neurotic disorders and in serious mental illnesses (schizophrenia). Treatment includes psychotherapy with the use of medications (tranquilizers, antidepressants, etc.).

Schizoid disorder

A mental disorder characterized by unsociability, isolation, low need for social life, and autistic personality traits. Such people are emotionally cold and have a weak ability for empathy and trusting relationships. The disorder begins in early childhood and continues throughout life. This personality is characterized by the presence of unusual hobbies ( Scientific research, philosophy, yoga, individual views sports, etc.). Treatment includes psychotherapy and social adaptation.

Schizotypal disorder

A mental disorder characterized by abnormal behavior and impaired thinking, similar to the symptoms of schizophrenia, but mild and unclear. There is a genetic predisposition to the disease. The pathology is manifested by emotional (detachment, indifference), behavioral (inappropriate reactions) disorders, social maladjustment, the presence of obsessions, strange beliefs, depersonalization, disorientation, and hallucinations. Treatment is complex and includes psychotherapy and medication.

Schizophrenia

A severe mental illness of a chronic course with a violation of thought processes, emotional reactions, leading to the disintegration of personality. The most common signs of the disease include auditory hallucinations, paranoid or fantastic delusions, speech and thinking disorders, accompanied by social dysfunction. Are noted to be of a violent nature auditory hallucinations(suggestions), the patient’s secrecy (devotes only those close to him), chosenness (the patient is convinced that he was chosen for the mission). For treatment, drug therapy (antipsychotic drugs) is indicated to correct symptoms.

Selective (selective) mutism

A condition when a child has a lack of speech in certain situations while the speech apparatus is functioning properly. In other circumstances and conditions, children retain the ability to speak and understand spoken speech. IN in rare cases the disorder occurs in adults. Typically, the onset of pathology is characterized by a period of adaptation to kindergarten and school. With normal child development, the disorder resolves spontaneously by the age of 10 years. Most effective treatment Family, individual and behavioral therapy are considered.

Encopresis

A disease characterized by dysfunction, uncontrollability of bowel movements, and fecal incontinence. It is usually observed in children; in adults it is more often of an organic nature. Encopresis is often combined with stool retention and constipation. The condition can be caused not only by mental, but also by somatic pathologies. The causes of the disease are immaturity of control of the act of defecation; a history of intrauterine hypoxia, infection, and birth trauma is often present. More often, the pathology occurs in children from socially disadvantaged families.

Enuresis

Syndrome of uncontrolled, involuntary urination, mainly at night. Urinary incontinence is more common in children of preschool and early school age; there is usually a history of neurological pathology. The syndrome contributes to the occurrence of psychological trauma in the child, the development of isolation, indecisiveness, neuroses, and conflicts with peers, which further complicates the course of the disease. The goal of diagnosis and treatment is to eliminate the cause of the pathology, psychological correction of the condition.

Types and symptoms of mental disorders in children. Childhood psychosis: causes, symptoms, treatment of mental disorders

Neuropsychological signs of mental disorders in children

Mental characteristics of children of different ages

Mental disorders in children

Causes

Genetic predisposition

Mental disability

Brain damage

Bad habits of parents

Constant conflicts

Types of diseases

Mental retardation and developmental delay

Attention Deficit Disorder

Autism

"Adult" mental disorders

What should parents pay attention to?

Increased level of cruelty

Fundamental refusal to eat and an exaggerated desire to lose weight

Panic attacks

Severe depression and suicidal tendencies

Sudden mood swings or changes in habitual behavior

Extreme hyperactivity that interferes with concentration

Negative social phenomena

Treatment methods

Childhood psychosis: causes, symptoms, treatment of mental disorders

Features of childhood psychoses

Why are children susceptible to mental disorders?

At-risk groups

Types of psychotic disorders among children

Symptoms depending on the form of failure

Early age

Later ages up to adolescence

Diagnostic criteria and methods

Providing professional assistance

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

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

The concept of mental disorder, its manifestation in children

Main signs of mental illness in children

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

General actions of specialists

General therapeutic approaches

Parental help

How to recognize mental disorders in a child

Causes of mental disorders in children

Symptoms of mental disorders in children

Signs of mental disorder in children

Treatment of mental problems in children

Causes of mental disorders in children

Symptoms of mental disorders in children

Signs of mental disorder in children

Treatment of mental problems in children

Childhood autism

Childhood hyperkinetic disorder

Isolated delays in skill development

Disorders of certain physiological functions in children

Tiki

Peculiarities of manifestation of major mental illnesses in children

Agoraphobia

Alcoholic​ ​dementia

Allotriophagy

Anorexia

Autism

White fever

Alzheimer's disease

Pick's disease

Bulimia

Hallucinosis

Dementia

Depersonalization

Depression

Dissociative fugue

Stuttering

gambling addiction

Idiocy

Imbecility

Hypochondria

Hysteria

Kleptomania

Cretinism

"Cultural" shock

Alcoholic dementia

Mania of persecution

Narcissistic personality disorder

Panic attacks

Self-injurious behavior (Patomimia)

Seasonal depression

Syndrome chronic fatigue

Syndrome emotional burnout

Vascular dementia

Stress and disorder adaptation

Schizotypal disorder

Selective (selective) mutism