Child Mental Health Flashcards
When is attachment seen?
After 6m of age
Stranger anxiety from 9m
What is attachment behaviour?
Individual attaining or retaining proximity to some differentiated & preferred individual
Separation leads to protest (cry)
In attachment behaviour what are the consequences of separation?
Protest
Despair
Detachment
What are disorders of attachment?
Reactive: Little/no interest in forming attachments, fearful, miserable-looking, hypervigilant
Disinhibited: Unusually friendly, forms superficial relationships easily, overactive, aggressive, poorly tolerate frustration
What are the features of a secure relationship?
Most common
Protests when caregiver gone
Happy to see parent & easily settled by them but not a stranger
Signs of stress: Inc HR & cortisol (Saliva)
What are the features of an insecure relationship?
2nd most common
Self reliant/caregiver fails to respond to distress
Less aware that parent is gone & less bothered to see them
Infant learnt to suppress emotional distress
Little reaction shown to separation & reunion
e.g mums who return to work
What are the types of anxiety disorders?
Seperation Generalised Panic PTSD OCD Phobias
What are the signs & symptoms of an anxiety disorder?
GENERALLY: Excessive worry >half the day for 6m Lack of concentration Sleep disturbance Dizziness Fatigue Breathlessness Sweating Chest pain Dry mouth Hyperarousal Avoidance behaviour V. YOUNG CHILDREN: simple phobias, separation anxiety w/starting school MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: Fear of animals, the dark, burglars, anxiety related pain ADOLESCENTS: Social phobias, OCD, panic
How are anxiety disorders treated?
Psycho-education of child & parents
Help child face their fears- hierarchical desensitisation
Skills acquisition
Parents as motivators
How common is suicide in children?
Rare in prepubertal children
4th most common cause of death in 15-19
What are predisposing factors for suicide?
Psychiatric disorder Family disputes Bullying Low self-esteem Physical illness Social isolation
What is the most common method of self-harm in children?
Cutting
Overdose: Analgesics
How is self-harm/suicide treated?
Assessment: Details of the event, any psychiatric disorder, degree of suicide intent, PMH of self-harm
What are the warning signs a child isn’t coping with a death?
Long period of depression
Loss of interest
Inability to sleep, LOA, prolonged fear of being alone
Acting like a younger child for a long time
Denial
Imitating the deceased
Talking about wanting to join the deceased
Sharp drop in school performance
What are the features of attachment behaviour?
Proximity seeking to attachment figure
Use of attachment as a secure base to explore the environment from
Seperation protest
Permanent separation leads to impaired capacity to feel secure
