Lecture - Comparing child and adult psychiatry Flashcards
What % of children and adolescents have mental health problems?
10% of children
20% of adolescents
How common is schizophrenia in children? Does an ‘imaginary friend’ mean psychosis in children?
Many children have an imaginary friend so this is usually normal
Schizophrenia prevalence is <0.02% (compared to 1% in adults) so very uncommon
Are antidepressants more or less effective in children?
Antidepressants are less efficacious in children
The childhood brain is however more sensitive to cannabis-induced psychosis and medication side-effects (e.g. antipsychotics)
Is personality disorder diagnosed in children?
Usually no as personality is developing at least until the age of 18
But can rarely be diagnosed
What is treatment of psychiatric conditions in childhood centred around?
Psychological therapies are most helpful
Management must involve liaising with social institutions e.g. family, school, social services, other communities such as public/voluntary oranisations or religious groups.
What is the SSRI of choice in children?
Fluoxetine
How common is anxiety in children? What are children anxious about at different ages?
What is the management of anxiety in children?
- Psychoeducation (child, parents, family)
-
CBT - brief and group both effective
- Medication (2nd line) - SSRI like fluoxetine, sertraline (for OCD)
- Liaise with school e.g. for school phobia, attendance, ADHD etc
*school-based CBT prevention strategies is collecting positive evidence
What is the prognosis of anxiety in childhood?
- Most do nott persist into adulthood
- BUT most adulthood/adolescence anxiety started with diagnosed/undiagnosed childhood anxiety
- 5x increased risk of adulthood anxiety in child anxiety disorder
- Remission : separation anxiety > phobias > general anxiety > panic > OCD (worst remission)
How does depression in children usually present? How is it diagnosed?
Symptoms: (1) affective, (2) biological, (3) cognitive, (4) impairment
- Irritability is common as well as the adult symptoms
- Somatis symptoms
- Social withdrawal/ school refusal/ change in academic performance
- Has to last at least 2 weeks and be present most of the time
- Peristent
- Comorbid anxiety, conduct and hyperkinetic disorders are common
Diagnosis criteria used is the same as in adults.
How common is depression in children?
- 40% of 14year olds are ‘miserable’ at some point so need to distinguish depression from sadness
- Depressive disorder uncommon in prepubertal stage but ~5% of adolescents have depressive disorder
How do you formulate the aetiology of depression in childhood?
- Predisposing factors
- Precipitant factors
- Perpetuating factors
- Presentation
- Protective factors are also looked at here.
What genes are implicated in childhood depression?
- BDNF gene polymophism associated with early-onset depression especially if environmental adversity
- Shorter allele variant of 5-HT transporter gene predisposes to depression but only in maltreated children
What is the management of depression in children?
- Psychoeducation
- Advice on sleep, exercise, diet
- Manage environmental stressors e.g. work with school to prevent bullying
Mild depression
- ‘Watchful waiting’ for 2 weeks by GP/cousellor/social worker
- If unresolved: 3 months psychological therapy - supportive, digital/group CBT, group NDST, group IPT
Moderate-severe depression
- Review CAMHS
- Then: 3 months CBT, interpersonal, family therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, brief psychological intervention *
- If unresolved: Switch psychological therapy or add fluoxetine combined
*but there is some disagreement and clinical judgement should also be used as to when medication can be added.
What is the only SSRI with favourable:risk benefit profile in children with depression?
Fluoxetine