What Is Child And Adolescent Psychiatry: Why Does It Matter?

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Did you know that the human brain doesn’t finish developing and maturing until the mid-to-late 20s? The prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain housed behind the forehead, is responsible for prioritization, judgment, and planning – it is also the last area of the brain to develop. Based on this fact alone, you can imagine why it might be important to have a basic understanding of child and adolescent psychiatry.

The brains of children and teenagers are constantly changing in response to biological and environmental forces. Ahead, we will explain the aims of child and adolescent psychiatrists, describe techniques frequently used within the domain, and make recommendations for locating the best psychiatrist for your child.

What Do Child And Adolescent Psychiatrists Do?

Psychiatry is a medical field that evaluates people who may have a mental disorder, and then diagnoses and treats them. Psychiatry is not to be confused with psychology. It is not the same as child counseling, either. They are similar fields, but what distinguishes psychiatrists from counselors or psychologists is their ability to prescribe medication,; additionally, psychiatrists are more often involved in the treatment for more severe mental disorders.

Therefore, child and adolescent psychiatrists aim to treat youth (under age 18) who are living with severe mental health issues. Child and adolescent psychiatry is a complex field because of the fact that youth’s brains are still developing; meaning, a psychiatrist may be more likely to wonder, “Does the child have a mental disorder, or are they just going through a typical child development stage?” in the diagnostic process. This question is frequently asked when considering a diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

How Do Psychiatrists Evaluate Child And Adolescent Mental Health?

A child and adolescent psychiatrist can diagnose their patients in the same ways as a normal psychiatrist. Here are some ways they do so. They will typically start by evaluating the child and the parent to learn about symptoms. A psychiatrist may use someone’s genetic history to make conclusions, as well. Has the youth experienced adverse or traumatic events? How do they get along with their siblings, if any?

Next, the psychiatrist will try to diagnose the child based on the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), which categorizes mental health disorders according to groupings of symptoms. The core manual for psychiatrists, the DSM-V provides specific criteria required for diagnosis.

Treating the mental illness is the next step. A psychiatrist will use different methods to treat the child such as talk therapy and/or medications. A parent usually follows up with the psychiatrist about any questions or concerns they have. Some mental disorders may go away with age, but others can get worse or cause other problems if left untreated. 

What Treatments Do Psychiatrists Use?

A psychiatrist can treat your child and allow them to live a much better life. Many treatment regimens for mental health conditions like depression or anxiety will include a combination of talk therapy and medication. 

Talk Therapy

In psychotherapy, a psychiatrist will listen to what you and your child have to say, and then suggest solutions based on the child's developmental stage. For example, if the child is shy, the psychiatrist will formulate a plan that will help them learn how to talk to others. If a teen is feeling depressed, a psychiatrist may use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help them reframe negative thought patterns. This can help change their thinking into something more positive and encourage them to live a better life. Talk therapy can be used instead of, or in addition to medication.

Medicine

Medication to treat the symptoms of mental illness is perhaps one of the most well-known ways a psychiatrist can offer treatment. A psychiatrist will prescribe antidepressants for depression, antipsychotics for psychosis disorders, and so on. Medication, especially in children, should be monitored during its usage so that the negative side effects are controlled. If your child needs to stop taking their medication, switch medication types, or adjust the dosage, these are all questions you can bring up with your psychiatrist, and caregivers are encouraged to do so.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

When a mental disorder doesn't respond to either of these two things, electroconvulsive therapy may be the answer. This involves the stimulation of one's brain while the participant is under anesthesia. Some parts of the brain can be stimulated using electricity or magnetism to reduce depression and increase happiness.

Electroconvulsive therapy is considered a safe alternative for severe cases of depression, producing substantial improvement in symptoms of nearly 80% of participants. Due to the historical use of this method, it is controversial and is only used when other treatments are not effective. As with any medical procedure, you should monitor your child during this type of therapy.

Finding A Good Child And Adolescent Psychiatrist

Certain factors can make it challenging for someone to find a best-fit child and adolescent psychiatrist. To start, the field's demand is much higher than its supply. Additionally, living in certain parts of the country means you may have limited access to excellent mental health care resources. The need to commute long distances in order to seek therapy can be difficult for working families to manage. 

One option for finding a great child psychiatrist is to ask around among your friends. Maybe one of their kids met with a psychiatrist and they can provide you with some insight. You can also talk to your health insurance provider, who may have a list of psychiatrists available who will accept your insurance and provide assistance at little to no cost.

Of course, you can always conduct an internet search for child and adolescent psychiatrists in your area. You can read the reviews and see how well they treat other patients' children. If the reviews seem good, consider booking an initial (often free) consultation.

What if you live in an area with limited access to mental healthcare for children? Consider online therapy platforms like MyTherapist, which enables adults to connect with licensed therapists experienced in treating specific conditions like depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. By enabling users to book virtual counseling sessions from any location with a secure internet connection, platforms like MyTherapist make it easier for parents all over the country to secure adequate mental health support. 

Many parents will appreciate the tendency for online therapy to be a more affordable alternative to in-person therapy. In addition to costing less per session, online counseling also eliminates the need to take off of work (or other priorities) early and commute in traffic. While MyTherapist is for adults only, teenagers are eligible to seek adolescent counseling through TeenCounseling, a sister platform to MyTherapist. While MyTherapist and TeenCounseling do not include psychiatrists in their networks, their dedicated psychologists can fulfill the talk therapy aspect of a treatment plan that also includes medication.

Online therapy has shown similar or greater efficacy to face-to-face therapy pertaining to the treatment of mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. For example, a literature review of 17 research studies found that online CBT for depression was more effective than face-to-face CBT. A separate study found online CBT significantly effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and specific phobias.

Questions To Ask Psychiatrists

When you find a child and adolescent psychiatrist, you have the right to ask them whatever questions you have regarding the treatment process. For example, while treating mental illness early is a good thing, some are opposed to giving children certain types of (or any) medication. Stories in the media telling of painkiller addiction and overdose in young teens are not uncommon, and in these particular cases, most opioid addiction develops after a youth is first prescribed an opioid.

It is okay to have concerns about administering medication to youth for mental health purposes. A good psychiatrist will encourage parents and youth to ask as many questions as possible before starting a medication and while taking it regularly. In addition to discussing any reservations you may have about administering medication to children or teenagers, here are a few additional questions you might pose:

• What is your experience? Where did you get your degree? What are your qualifications?
• How long will your typical session be? Will you work around my child's schedule?
• How will you treat my child? Will you try several different methods?
• When it comes to an emergency, how long will it take for you to respond?
• How long will it take for you to make a diagnosis? (A good psychiatrist will not rush a diagnosis, as they could get it wrong).

Takeaway

Making the decision to seek counseling for your child or teen does not mean that you are a bad parent or that you did something wrong. It shows that you care and want what is best for your child. You can trust the licensed counselors at MyTherapist to take your concerns seriously. They will ask questions to get to know your child and their situation, and propose a range of resources or techniques you can use to support your child in overcoming a challenge or managing the symptoms of a mental health disorder. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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