Neurobiological Brain Disorders: Does my Child Have One? Knowing When to Seek Help

If you are a parent or guardian of a child that has been identified with a serious emotional disorder (SED), a neurobiological brain disorder (NBD), or mental illness, you are the best judge of your child's special needs and particular strengths. Your direct and active participation in his or her treatment is essential to successful outcomes as your child receives services from the mental health and educational communities.

I've been told my child is seriously emotionally disturbed. What does that mean?

Serious emotional disturbance (SED) is a broad term used by school systems to classify students that exhibit any of a wide variety of behavioral disorders or mental health problems. These problems may be due to sociological or environmental causes (such as abuse, neglect, crime, poverty, or emotional, neurotic, or life-adjustment issues) but SED also includes children with neurobiological brain disorders (NBD).

What are neurobiological disorders, or mental illnesses in children?

Neurobiological disorders, neurobiological brain disorders (NBD), and mental illness are terms used for a group of brain disorders that cause disturbances in thinking, feeling, or relating. These disorders result in a substantially reduced capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of everyday life.

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, including children and adolescents. They can occur in any family, and they are not anyone's fault.

What specific disorders, sometimes referred to by professionals as diagnostic categories, are considered neurobiological disorders?

Schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar disorder (manic depression), major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, borderline personality disorder, autism, pervasive developmental disorders, Tourette's syndrome, and attention deficit disorder (with or without hyperactivity) are a class of severe and persistent neurobiological brain disorders.

You can learn more about these disorders by consulting The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (referred to as "DSM-IV"), published by the American Psychiatric Association. It is available in the reference section of most public libraries and in Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI) libraries. How do I know if my child is affected?

If you suspect your child is ill, or if a teacher or school counselor suggests that your child should be evaluated, you should seek a professional's advice. NAMI would recommend a psychiatric evaluation, preferably performed by a psychiatrist who specializes in children and adolescents.

How can I get an accurate diagnosis for my child?

Research in the biomedical field is ensuring more accurate diagnoses. Well-qualified and licensed psychiatrists that can evaluate and make a diagnosis can be found in university-affiliated schools and hospitals and in private practice.

Most younger psychiatrists, trained in the past 10 to 15 years, recognize that all brain disorders have a biological underpinning. These medical doctors will outline the kind of treatment they believe will be most appropriate for your child. You will want to choose a professional who respects your role and views the family not as part of the child's problem, but as a strength the child can build on.

What kind of treatments or programs should I be seeking for my child?

If you have been able to get an accurate diagnosis, you are well on your way. Your child's psychiatrist may offer medication or a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The doctor may suggest that another person (such as a social worker or psychologist (provide the therapy while he overseas the medication. The therapist generally talks extensively with the child about his feelings and conflicts, his current problems, and how to establish good relationships with those around him.

Parents need to be informed about the goals of psychotherapy, behavior-management techniques, and family therapy. Ask questions. Find out the qualifications of various therapists. Find out how long such therapies will last and how much they will cost. Who will pay if you cannot? Be an informed consumer. Ask other families who have been through similar situations. AMI and AMI-CAN families generally have answers to these and other questions you will have.

Where can I find out about medications that have been prescribed for my child?

First, ask the psychiatrist who prescribed them. Questions you will want to ask include: What symptoms might the medication alter? When and how should the medication be taken? What side effects should I be looking for? What are the short- and long-term effects of the medications? Are there any toxic side effects that the child may experience that I should tell the physician about immediately? What strategies will lessen the side-effects normally associated with the medication.

For more information about medications used to treat child and adolescent brain disorders, you may want to contact J. Frueling at the Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Information Center, University of Wisconsin, Department of Psychiatry, B6-227CSC, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792-2475 (608/263-6171).

(The above article provided, compliment of NAMI (National Association for the Mentally Ill)

  Know When to Seek Help for Your Child

Parents are usually the first to recognize that their child has a problem with emotions or behavior. Parents' growing concerns, and observations of outside resources such as teachers and family combine to form a process of coming to the realization that a child can benefit from treatment. Parents may also consult with the child and adolescent psychiatrist or other professionals about ways to help their youngster at home. Following are a few signs which may indicate that a child and adolescent psychiatric evaluation will be useful.

YOUNGER CHILDREN

 Marked fall in school performance.
 A lot of worry or anxiety, as shown by regular refusal to go to school, go to sleep or take part in activities that are normal for the child's age.
 Hyperactivity; fidgeting; constant movement beyond regular playing.
 Persistent nightmares.
 Persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than 6 months) and provocative opposition to authority figures.
 Frequent, unexplainable temper tantrums.

PRE-ADOLESCENTS AND ADOLESCENTS

 Marked change in school performance.
 Abuse of alcohol and/or drugs.
 Inability to cope with problems and daily activities.
 Marked changes in sleeping and/or eating habits.
 Many complaints of physical ailments.
 Aggressive or non-aggressive consistent violation of rights of others; opposition to authority, truancy, thefts, vandalism.
 Intense fear of becoming obese with no relationship to actual body weight.
 Depression shown by sustained, prolonged negative mood and attitude, often accompanied by poor appetite, difficulty sleeping or thoughts of death.
 Frequent outbursts of anger.

(The above article provided, compliment of American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)