Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog

How Can Parents Best Help Their Depressed Adolescents?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the best parenting approach for depressed adolescents. A article published in Medical News Today January 11, 2009,"Preventing Teenage Depression By Recognizing Children's Successes In All Areas,"examines this issue. The article reports on a study titled, “"Low Academic Competence in First Grade as a Risk Factor for Depressive Cognitions and Symptoms in Middle School," recently published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. The researchers studied “…the behaviors of 474 boys and girls in the first grade and re-examined the students when they entered middle school.” The results were interesting. “…students who struggled academically with core subjects, such as reading and math, in the first grade later showed risk factors for negative self-beliefs and depressive symptoms as they entered sixth and seventh grade.” The researchers noted that "One of the main ways children can get others to like them in school is by being good students. Children with poor academic skills may believe that they have one less method for influencing important social outcomes, which could lead to negative consequences later in life. Children's individual differences will always exist in basic academic skills, so it is necessary to explore and emphasize other assets in students, especially those with lower academic skill relative to their peers." The researchers suggest that parents celebrate their adolescent’s skills in other areas including, “…interpersonal skills, non-core academic areas, athletics and music."

The Bottom Line: Parents of depressed adolescents who struggle in school can best support their children by celebrating their child’s skills in other areas including, interpersonal skills, non-core academic areas, athletics and music.

Reference: Original Article

Great Youtube Video on Adolescent Depression:

Resources:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: Adolescent and Young Adult

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Can Changing One's Thinking Reduce the Risk of Depression in Adolescents?

Cognitive Prevention Program Trumps Usual Care in “Real World” Trial

At-risk teens exposed to a program that teaches them to counteract their unrealistic and overly negative thoughts experienced significantly less depression than their peers who received usual care, NIMH-funded researchers have found. However, the cognitive behavioral prevention program failed to similarly help adolescents prone to the mood disorder if their parents were currently depressed.

NIMH grantee Judy Garber, Ph.D., of Vanderbilt University, and colleagues, report on the findings of their multi-site clinical trial in the June 3, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Background

Only a fourth of depressed youth receive any treatment and at least 20 percent develop a chronic, difficult-to-treat form of the illness. Having a history of the illness substantially increases risk for depression, which soars two to three times among children of depressed parents. An initial study had supported the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral prevention program in reducing risk in such depression-prone teens, but it was unknown whether this would hold up across diverse "real world" settings.

To find out, Garber and Drs. David Brent, the University of Pittsburgh, William Beardslee, Boston Children's Hospital and Judge Baker Children's Center, and Gregory Clarke, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, OR, randomly assigned 316 at-risk adolescents (aged 13-17) to either the cognitive behavioral program or usual care.

Teens in the cognitive behavioral program received eight weekly 90-minute group cognitive behavioral sessions. Masters or doctoral-level therapists helped them learn to restructure dysfunctional thinking patterns and practice problem solving skills. This was followed by six monthly continuation sessions in which they reviewed the cognitive and problem-solving skills and also learned relaxation, assertiveness and behavioral activation techniques.

Teens in the usual care condition as well as those in the cognitive behavior program were allowed to begin or continue with any mental health or other healthcare services available in their communities.

Results of This Study

Over a 9-month follow-up period, the rate of depression in the cognitive behavioral program group was 11 percent lower than for those in the usual care condition — 21.4 percent vs. 32.7 percent. Adolescents in the prevention program also self-reported lower levels of depression symptoms than those in usual care. Among teens whose parents were not depressed at the beginning of the study, the program was more effective in preventing onset of depression than usual care — 11.7 percent vs. 40.5 percent. However, this advantage did not hold for youth in the cognitive behavioral program if they had a parent who was depressed at the start of the study. Such teens had significantly higher rates of depression than those without a currently depressed parent.

Significance

The results demonstrate that the prevention program can be effectively delivered in a variety of "real world" settings, say the researchers.

"For every 9 adolescents who received the cognitive intervention, we would expect to prevent one from developing a depressive episode," explained Garber. "This is comparable to what is seen with treatment response to medication."

Moreover, preventing recurrence of a depressive episode may arguably bring even greater benefits than treating an episode after it has already produced other negative consequences. This suggests that the program may be useful for maintaining recovery, once achieved, she noted.

What's Next?

"Our results also underscore the link between changes in parent and youth depression. Future investigations might explore combining or sequencing parental depression and prevention programs for at-risk teens."

Reference

Prevention of depression in at-risk adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Garber J, Clarke GN, Weersing VR, Beardslee WR, Brent DA, Gladstone TR, DeBar LL, Lynch FL, D'Angelo E, Hollon SD, Shamseddeen W, Iyengar S. JAMA. 2009 Jun 3;301(21):2215-24.PMID: 19491183

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System
• The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
• The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also see blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Are Black Female Adolescents at High Risk for Suicide Attempts?

Black American teens, especially females, may be at high risk for attempting suicide even if they have never been diagnosed with a mental disorder, according to researchers funded in part by NIMH. Their findings, based on responses from adolescent participants in the National Survey of American Life (NSAL), provide the first national estimates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (ideation) and suicide attempts in 13- to 17-year-old black youth in the United States. The study was published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Background

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in all teens in the United States, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Historically, black teens and young adults have lower suicide rates than white teens, but in recent decades, the suicide rate for black youth has increased dramatically.

The NSAL is a nationally representative, household survey of African Americans and blacks of Caribbean descent. From the NSAL households, 810 African American and 360 Caribbean black teens, ages 13-17, were randomly selected to complete the NSAL-Adolescent (NSAL-A) survey.

Findings from this Study

Sean Joe, Ph.D., LMSW, University of Michigan, and colleagues evaluated NSAL-A teens' responses to questions about suicidal ideation and nonfatal suicide attempts. According to the researchers, such attempts may occur up to 10-40 times more often than completed suicides and are important risk factors for future suicide.

According to the study, in a given year, African American teen girls are most likely to attempt suicide, followed by Caribbean teen girls, African American teen boys, and Caribbean teen boys.

However, Caribbean females in the study reported the highest rates for suicidal ideation, while Caribbean teen males reported the lowest rates for ideation and suicide attempts. This is in contrast to a previous NSAL report, which found that Caribbean adult males had the highest rates of suicide attempts among black Americans.

Also in contrast to previous studies, the researchers noted that youth from lower income households ($18,000-$31,999 annually) were least likely to report attempting suicide, while youth living in homes of modest means ($32,000-$54,999) were most likely.

Having a mental disorder was closely linked to attempted suicide among study participants. Teens with anxiety disorders were a highest risk. Despite this relationship, roughly half of teens who attempted suicide did not have or were never diagnosed with a mental disorder.

As in previous studies, teens living in the U.S. South and West appeared to be less at risk for attempted suicide than those living in the Northeast.

Overall, the researchers estimated that at some point before they reach 17 years of age, 4 percent of black teens, and more than 7 percent of black teen females, will attempt suicide.

Significance

Suicide prevention efforts require a better understanding of population-specific risk factors. This study provides the first national estimates for rates of suicidal ideation and attempts among black youth in the United States, including important information on ethnic differences.

What's Next

According to the researchers, their findings show the need for further studies on risk factors for suicide in this population, especially on ethnicity-specific risks and non-psychiatric risks. Because only half of suicide attempters had ever been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, Joe and colleagues suggest that suicide prevention efforts should include screening for suicidal behaviors in clinical and non-clinical settings (schools, community centers, etc.) when working with black teens, especially females.

Reference

Joe S, Baser RS, Neighbors HW, Caldwell CH, S Jackson J. 12-Month and Lifetime Prevalence of Suicide Attempts Among Black Adolescents in the National Survey of American Life. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Mar;48(3):271-82.PMID: 19182692.

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System
• The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
• The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Also see blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General, Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Can Bullying Cause Psychotic Symptoms In Children?

Mental health professionals have long debated the impact of bullying on children. An article published in Medical News Today, May 7, 2009, “Children Who Suffered Bullying Are More Likely To Develop Psychotic Symptoms In Early Adolescence,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the May 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. The Researchers studied “…..6,437 early adolescents with an average age of 12.9….The children participated in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Questionnaires were regularly sent by mail to parents concerning their child's physical condition and progress since birth. Beginning at the age of seven, the children were submitted to physical and psychological evaluations on a yearly basis….During the yearly visits, they were rated by skilled interviewers on whether during the preceding six months they had experienced hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders or any other psychotic symptoms. Peer victimization is defined as harmful actions and unfair treatment by one or several other students with purpose to harm. Children, parents and teachers were required to account on whether the child had suffered such oppression.”  The results were interesting. “The study concluded that a total of 46.2 percent of the participants were considered as victims, and 53.8 percent of the children as not mistreated at either ages of eight or ten. After monitoring the follow-up results, they indicated the following: 13.7 percent had broad psychosis-like symptoms, meaning one or more symptoms suspected or positively present…11.5 percent had intermediate symptoms, meaning one or more of the symptoms was suspected or present from time to time, other than when going to sleep, waking from sleep, having fever or after using substance….5.6 percent had narrow symptoms, meaning one or more symptoms definitely present…Independent of other psychiatric illness, family hardship, or the child's IQ, the risk of psychotic symptoms was multiplied by two for children who suffered bullying at age eight or ten. The correlation was more notable in cases where victimization was persistent or more traumatic.” There are several important implications of this study. First, parents who suspect that their children are victims of bullying must take immediate action to stop the bullying. The long term consequences of inaction are simply too severe. Second, mental health professionals who treat children with psychotic-like symptoms must assess the children for a history of bullying. Third, school professionals must intervene immediately when they witness bullying of any child within the school setting. And fourth, public health professionals must be more aggressive in educating the public about the danger of bullying and the steps that parents must take to stop the bullying of their children. The authors conclude, “…A major implication is that chronic or severe peer victimization has non-trivial, adverse, long-term consequences. Reduction of peer victimization and of the resulting stress caused to victims could be a worthwhile target for prevention and early intervention efforts for common mental health problems and psychosis."

The Bottom Line:  The results of this study strongly suggest that bullying can cause psychotic-like symptoms in children.      

Reference: The original article 

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System
• The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
• The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Can Children Get Addicted to Video Games?

Mental health professionals have long debated the impact of video games on children. An article published in Medical News Today, April 20, “Nearly 10 Per Cent Young American Video Gamers Addicted,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published online on April 1, 2009 in the journal Psychological Science. The researchers surveyed “……1,178 randomly selected American youths aged from 8 to 18. The survey collected enough data to enable [the researchers] to assess the extent to which the youngsters were showing pathological behavior in respect of video game playing…The criteria include the extent to which the behavior causes family, social, school or psychological damage, among other things.” The results of the study were concerning. “…8.5 per cent of the survey respondents were showing symptoms that would be classified by the manual as pathological if they had been gambling instead of playing video games….The results showed that pathological gamers: …..Spent 24 hours a week playing video games: about twice as much time as non-pathological gamers…Were more likely to have video game systems in their bedrooms…..Were more likely to report having problems paying attention at school….Were more likely to have received a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)….Received poorer school grades…Had poorer health…Were more likely to say they felt "addicted" to their habit…..Stole to support their habit.” There are several important implications of this study. First, parents of children who appear to be addicted to videos must take immediate action and have their child evaluated and treated for their addiction. Second, mental who treat ADHD youth must assess all these children for the presence of a video game addiction. Third, school professionals who suspect a student of being addicted to video games should immediately confer with that child’s guidance counselor to craft an action plan. Fourth, public health professionals must do a better job of educating the public about the dangers of video games and children.

 

The Bottom Line:  The results of this study strongly suggest that video games and addicting and dangerous in children.       

Reference: The original article 

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System
• The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
• The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Do Mental Health Problems In Childhood Increase the Risk of Suicide?

Mental health professionals have long debated the impact of mental health problems in children on their later mental health. An article published in Medical News Today, April 7, “Mental Health Problems In Childhood May Predict Later Suicide Attempts In Males,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study published April 2009 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. The researchers studied, “…..5,302 Finnish individuals born in 1981. Eight years later, information about psychiatric conditions, school performance and family demographics was gathered from children, parents and teachers. Participants were then tracked through national registers through 2005.” The results of the research were interesting. “Between ages 8 and 24, 40 participants died, including 24 males and 16 females. Of those, 13 males and two females died from suicide. A total of 54 males and females (1 percent) either completed suicide or made a suicide attempt serious enough to result in hospitalization….Of the 27 males who either seriously attempted or completed suicide, 78 percent screened positive for psychiatric conditions at age 8, compared with 11 percent of 27 females who had serious or completed suicide attempts. In addition, males who would go on to make life-threatening or completed suicide attempts were more likely at age 8 to live in a family that did not consist of two biological parents, have psychological problems as reported by a teacher or have conduct, hyperactive or emotional problems. However, none of these factors at age 8 predicted later suicidal behavior in females, and depression at age 8 was not associated with suicide attempts for either sex.” There are several important implications of this study. First, parents of young children who are experiencing mental health problems as early at the age of eight must get their children evaluated and treated. In addition, these parents should be look for symptoms of a mental disorder throughout the child’s adolescence and young adulthood. Second, mental health professionals who are treating adolescents and young adults should screen for an early childhood history of mental disorders. Third, school professionals should be attentive to any signs of mental distress in students, particularly those who have been known to have had childhood mental disorders. Fourth, public health professionals should increase their efforts to educate parents about suicide prevention techniques. The authors conclude that “…The development of measures to effectively screen, detect and treat childhood disorders is a key issue in the effort to prevent suicide among males. This focus is particularly important among males with severe conduct problems because, during adolescence, they usually do not seek mental health services.”

The Bottom Line:  The results of this study strongly suggest that mental disorders in young males increases the risk of suicide when these children become young adults.        

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System
• The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
• The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Can Spirituality Help a Child’s Health?

Mental health professionals have long debated the relationship between spirituality and health. An article published in Medical News Today, March 12, 2009, “Spiritual Kids Are Healthier,” examines this issue. The article reports on a study recently presented at the American Psychological Association's Division of Rehabilitation Psychology national conference on February 27, 2009. The researchers studied, “…..16 children (ages six to 20) who were undergoing hemodialysis due to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The patients were questioned on a scale of spirituality behaviors and attitudes, and responses were correlated to dialysis-related blood levels, including: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), lymphocytes, albumin, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and urea reduction ratio.” The results of the study were very interesting. “…There was a significant negative correlation between spiritual attitudes and BUN levels…..As children reported more agreement with statements like, 'I am sure that God cares about me,' and 'God has a plan for me," their average BUN levels over the past year were lower.” The researchers also studied, “….HIV positive pediatric patients (ages seven to 17), comparing religious development, church attendance and prayer to health measures such as symptoms, T-cell counts and number of hospitalizations….One significant finding was that children who attended church were more likely to have higher T-cell counts than non churchgoing children..”

The Bottom Line:  The results of this study suggest that spiritual beliefs in children can have a positive effect on their health status.       

Reference: The original article

Additional Sources of Information:

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System
• The Facts About Major Depressive Disorder
• The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression

Sources: See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

What Every Parent Needs to Know About Adolescent Depression

Check out The Parent's Guide to Understanding Adolescent Depression authored by Dr. Jeff and Dr. Tanya and now available in a great informational website hosted by Squidoo.com. Below is a sneak preview of the website's Table of Contents:

• The Definition of Adolescence
• The Definition of Depression
• What Increases the Risk of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults?
• Does Using Placebos Harm Adolescents with Depression?
• Are Anxious and Depressed Teens and Adults the Same or Different?
• Frequently asked questions about the treatment of children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders
• Great Youtube Video on Understanding Adolescent Depression
• Great Youtube Video on What Adolescent Depression Looks Like
• Great Youtube Video on the Causes of Adolescent Depression
• Great Youtube Video on Understanding Adolescent Depression and Suicide
• Five Great Books on Adolescent Depression
• Add to Amazon's List of Great Books on Adolescent Depression
• Great Flickr Photos on Serenity for Adolescent Mental Health and Wellness
• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Adolescent depression
• Great Blogposts on Adolescent Depression from Google
• Great Google Feeds on Adolescent Depression
• Twitter Search on Adolescent Depression
• Great Links on Adolescent Depression
• Links to Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya"s Best Blogposts on Adolescent Mental Disorders
• The Best Parent Resource Guide on Teen Mental Health
• Great Articles Authored by Dr. Jeffrey Speller and Dr. Tanya Korkosz about Adolescent Depression and other Mental Disorders
• More Informative Articles by Dr. Jeffrey Speller and Dr. Tanya Korkosz about Adolescent Depression and Other Disorders
• Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Weblog on Adolescent Depression and Other Disorders
• Follow Dr. Speller on Twitter
• The Best from The New York Times on Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders
• Scientific American 60 Second Psychiatry
• The Latest Clinical Psychiatric News
• Dr. Jeffrey Speller's Bio
• Dr. Tanya Korkosz's Bio
• Other Great Lenses by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz
• About Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
• Location of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
• Dr. Jeff''s and Dr. Tanya's Favorite New England Scenes
• Reader Feedback

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

What Increases the Risk of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults?

Mental health professionals have long debated about whether adolescent TV watching increases the risk of depression in adolescents when they become young adults. A article published in HealthDay News January 26, 2009, “Adolescent TV Time Affects Adult Risk of Depression” examines this issue.The article reports on two studies published in the February 2009 issues of the Archives of General Psychiatry and the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The researchers studied the electronic media exposure of 4,142 and 93,297 subjects. “In the first study, [the researchers] studied the electronic media exposure of 4,142 non-depressed adolescents who were assessed for depression over seven years of follow-up, and found that greater television time was associated with higher odds of developing depression as young adults.” In the second study the researchers “..conducted a study of 93,297 students (aged 15 years) from 31 largely European and North American countries and regions, and found that the more evenings the subjects spent out with their friends, the more likely they were to use cannabis.”  The researchers conclude that “There is a great need to learn more about the nature of evenings out with friends and related factors that might explain changes in adolescent cannabis use over time….Because there are many benefits to adolescent social interaction, it is important to determine how best to foster it without unduly increasing exposure opportunities for cannabis use." Based of our experience and expertise in treating adolescent substance abusers and depressed young adults, we offer several tips for parents First, parents should significant limit the amount of time that adolescents spend watching TV to two hours a day during the week and three hours a day during the weekend. Second, parents who suspect that their adolescent child is exhibiting the signs and symptoms of depression or engaging in the use and abuse of cannabis should seek an evaluation from a qualified mental health profession. Third, parents with adolescents who have been diagnosed with depression and/or a substance abuse problem should seek treatment from a qualified medical professional who can provide appropriate counseling, psychotherapy, and medication if necessary. Fourth, parents should know who their adolescents are socializing with and educate their adolescents about the dangers in the use of cannabis.

The Bottom Line: The results of these studies strongly support the conclusions that excessive TV watching in adolescence increases the risk of developing depression as an young adult and that adolescent socializing with friends increases the risk of cannabis use.

Resources:

How to improve your understanding of depression. View this top rated video from Youtube:

Ten Great Books on Depression

1. Anxiety & Depression Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Psychology & Self Help)) (Paperback) by Charles H., PhD Elliott (Author), Laura L., PhD Smith (Author), Aaron T., MD Beck (Author)
2. Depression for Dummies (Paperback) by Laura L., PhD Smith (Author), Charles H., PhD Elliott (Author)
3. Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time: The New Behavioral Activation Approach to Getting Your Life Back (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) (Paperback) by Michael E., Ph.D. Addis (Author), Christopher R. Martell (Author)
4. Overcoming Depression: A Step-by-Step Approach to Gaining Control Over Depression (Paperback) by Paul Gilbert(Author)
5. Overcoming Depression, 3rd edition by Demitri Papolos (Paperback - Jan 10, 1997)
6. Overcoming Depression (Victory Over the Darkness) by Neil T. Anderson and Joanne Anderson (Paperback - Jul 2004)
7. Woman's Guide to Overcoming Depression, A by Archibald Hart and Catherine Hart Weber (Mass Market Paperback - Nov 1, 2007)
8. Overcoming Anxiety and Depression: Practical Tools to Help You Deal with Negative Emotions by Bob Phillips (Paperback - Aug 15, 2007)
9. Overcoming Depression (Overcoming) by Paul Gilbert (Paperback - May 25, 2000)
10. Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Depression: New Ways to Regain your Confidence by James Gardner, Arthur H. Bell (Paperback - Feb 1, 2005)

Twelve Resource and Support Groups for Depression

1. Broken Smiles 
2. Journey Towards Freedom
3. Depression Forums
4. Depression Boards  
5. Depression Resources
6. Depression Understood  
7. Depressionsupport1  
8. Yahoo Depression Support Groups
9. The Depression Support Group
10. Depression and Bipolar Support
11. Alliance
12. Families for Depression Awareness

Great Informational Websites Created by Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz:

• Stress and the Human Brain
• Early Life Stress and the Immune System

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, See blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression, Youtube

Reference: HealthDay News January 26, 2009, “Adolescent TV Time Affects Adult Risk of Depression."

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For more books with related content, type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Does Peer Victimization Increase Sexual Acting Out in Adolescents?

Mental health professionals have long been concerned about the effects of peer victimization of adolescents. An article published February 18, 2009 in Medical News Today examines this issue. The article reported on a study on recently published in Personality and Individual Differences. The researchers studied 100 college students in terms of peer victimization. The results were disturbing. "Female college students who were frequently victimized during middle and high school reported having sex at earlier ages and more sexual partners than their peers, while males reported just the opposite.....over 85 percent of all victimization occurred between members of the same sex, and that indirect victimization (e.g., teasing, demeaning, isolating) predicted sexual behavior, while physical aggression did not." The implications of this study are significant. First, parents of adolescent children need to been aware of peer victimization of their children and take immediate and appropriate action to stop the victimization. The the results of this study strongly indicate that peer victimization which is not properly addressed can often have long lasting and significant negative effects on children. Second, mental health professionals who treat adolescents who engage in early and inappropriate sexuality should screen these patients for a history of peer victimization. And, third, public health professionals need to do a better job of educating the public about the dangers of peer victimization of children. 

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that peer victimization at an early age increases the risk of early sexual behavior in adolescents and young adults.

Sources: Youtube, Original Article

How to prevent online victimization of your child. View these two top-rated video from Youtube:

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Does Using Placebos Harm Adolescents with Depression?

Teens with depression who initially are randomly assigned to placebo treatment (inactive pill) during a trial are no more likely to experience harm or have a diminished response to subsequent active treatments than teens who are initially randomized to active treatment, according to an analysis of data from the NIMH-funded Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). The study was published online ahead of print January 15, 2009, in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Background

The TADS team randomly assigned 439 adolescents aged 12 to 17 to one of four treatment strategies for 36 weeks —the antidepressant fluoxetine only, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) only, the combination of the two, or placebo. TADS results can be found here.

The group that received placebo was then offered the TADS treatment of their choice after the first 12 weeks of the trial and treated openly. For this analysis, Betsy Kennard, Psy.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues compared the outcome of the “placebo/open group” to that of the active treatment groups combined to determine if the placebo treatment or the delay in getting active treatment affected the teens’ long-term benefits. They also aimed to determine if the teens responded differently to subsequent active treatment than the groups who had been treated with active treatments throughout the study.

Results of the Study

At the end of the 36-week trial, 82 percent of the placebo/open group had responded to active treatment, compared to 83 percent of those in the active treatment groups. About 48 percent of the placebo/open group achieved remission, compared to 59 percent of the active group. The difference in remission rates was not statistically significant, but the researchers suggest that the small difference likely resulted because the active treatment group received treatment for a longer period of time than the placebo/open group.

Rates of worsening symptoms or adverse events such as suicidal thinking and behavior did not differ between the placebo/open group and the active treatment group. In addition, neither group was more likely to discontinue treatment compared to the other.

Significance

Scientists know little about the long-term outcomes of placebo treatment in pediatric antidepressant trials, leading to concerns about the impact of delaying active treatment with the use of placebo. However, a placebo-controlled study provides value by helping researchers better differentiate among treatments and treatment responses.

This study helped researchers conclude that 12 weeks of placebo does not cause harm for teens with depression, nor does it reduce the rate of response when the teens are given subsequent active treatments. Moreover, 73 percent of placebo participants elected to receive active, open treatment after the first 12 weeks, suggesting that participants are not reluctant to seek additional treatment after participating in a placebo condition.

The lack of difference in adverse events and drop-out rates also suggests that teens are able to tolerate placebo treatment and the potential waiting period before receiving active treatment without experiencing significant worsening of symptoms. The researchers conclude that the use of placebo for this amount of time is ethical, and the risk of harm in delaying active treatment is low.

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to “Psychiatric Disorders: General” or type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in the keywords into the Psychology Today “Search”.
• For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Ten Great Books on Depression

1. Anxiety & Depression Workbook For Dummies (For Dummies (Psychology & Self Help)) (Paperback) by Charles H., PhD Elliott (Author), Laura L., PhD Smith (Author), Aaron T., MD Beck (Author)
2. Depression for Dummies (Paperback) by Laura L., PhD Smith (Author), Charles H., PhD Elliott (Author)
3. Overcoming Depression One Step at a Time: The New Behavioral Activation Approach to Getting Your Life Back (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) (Paperback) by Michael E., Ph.D. Addis (Author), Christopher R. Martell (Author)
4. Overcoming Depression: A Step-by-Step Approach to Gaining Control Over Depression (Paperback) by Paul Gilbert(Author)
5. Overcoming Depression, 3rd edition by Demitri Papolos (Paperback - Jan 10, 1997)
6. Overcoming Depression (Victory Over the Darkness) by Neil T. Anderson and Joanne Anderson (Paperback - Jul 2004)
7. Woman's Guide to Overcoming Depression, A by Archibald Hart and Catherine Hart Weber (Mass Market Paperback - Nov 1, 2007)
8. Overcoming Anxiety and Depression: Practical Tools to Help You Deal with Negative Emotions by Bob Phillips (Paperback - Aug 15, 2007)
9. Overcoming Depression (Overcoming) by Paul Gilbert (Paperback - May 25, 2000)
10. Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Depression: New Ways to Regain your Confidence by James Gardner, Arthur H. Bell (Paperback - Feb 1, 2005)

Twelve Resource and Support Groups for Depression

1. Broken Smiles 
2. Journey Towards Freedom
3. Depression Forums
4. Depression Boards  
5. Depression Resources
6. Depression Understood  
7. Depressionsupport1  
8. Yahoo Depression Support Groups
9. The Depression Support Group
10. Depression and Bipolar Support
11. Alliance
12. Families for Depression Awareness

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, See also blogposts in Psychiatric Disorders: General and Psychiatric Disorders: Depression

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Best Resource Guide on Child Behavior Disorders

All kids misbehave some times, but behavior disorders go beyond mischief and rebellion. With behavior disorders, your child or teen has a pattern of hostile, aggressive or disruptive behaviors for more than 6 months.

Warning signs can include

• Harming or threatening themselves, other people or pets
• Damaging or destroying property
• Lying or stealing
• Not doing well in school, skipping school
• Early smoking, drinking or drug use
• Early sexual activity
• Frequent tantrums and arguments
• Consistent hostility towards authority figures

If you see signs of a problem, ask for help. Poor choices can become habits. Kids who have behavior problems are at higher risk for school failure, mental health problems and even suicide. Classes or family therapy may help parents learn to set and enforce limits.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Start Here

• Children and Adolescents with Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0006/default.asp

Overviews

• Behavioral and Developmental Problems in Young Children(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch269/ch269a.html
• How Do I Know If My Child's Behavior Is Normal?(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Behavior.htm

Latest News

• Program Reduces Conduct Problems in Black Youth(12/23/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73085.html
• Second-Hand Smoke Tied to Behavior Problems in Boys(12/22/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73044.html
• Secondhand Smoke Boosts Asthmatic Boys' Behavior Woes(12/10/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_72651.html

Diagnosis/Symptoms

• Checklists for Preliminary Mental Health Screen(MADI Resource Center) - http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/schoolpsychiatry_checklists.asp
• Children's Threats: When Are They Serious?(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Childrens+Threats%3A+When+Are+They+Serious%3F&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Las+Amenazas+de+los+Ninos%3A+Cuando+Hay+Que+Tomarlas+en+Serio%3F+No.+65
• Screening Tools and Rating Scales(MADI Resource Center) - http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/schoolpsychiatry_screeningtools.asp
• When to Seek Help for Your Child(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=When+To+Seek+Help+For+Your+Child&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Sepa+Cuando+Buscar+Ayuda+para+su+Hijo%2FHija+No.+24

Treatment

• Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychotherapies+For+Children+And+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=La+Sicoterapia+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+86
• Teaching Your Child Self-Control(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/self_control.html
• Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/treatment-of-children-with-mental-disorders/summary.shtml
• What Kind of Mental Health Professionals Are Trained to Help Children?(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_MentalHealth.htm

Specific Conditions

• Aggressive Behavior(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK0_Aggression.htm
• Behavioral / Mental Health(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/behavior.cfm
• Cheating(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Cheating.htm
• Children and Adolescents with Conduct Disorder(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0010/default.asp
• Children and Lying(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts%20for%20Families&name=Children%20And%20Lying
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Los+Ninos+y+el+Mentir+No.+44
• Children Who Won't Go to School (Separation Anxiety)(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+Who+Won%27t+Go+To+School+%28Separation+Anxiety%29&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Los+Ninos+que+se+Niegan+a+ir+a+la+Escuela+%28Ansiedad+por+la+Separacion%29+No.+7
• Disobedience(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Disobedience.htm
• Fighting and Biting(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Fighting+And+Biting&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Cuando+un+Nino+Pelea+o+Muerde+No.+81
• My Child Is Stealing(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/shoplifting.html
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/oppositional-defiant-disorder/DS00630/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
• Self-Injury/Cutting(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/self-injury/DS00775/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
• Shyness(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Shy.htm
• Swearing(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Swearing.htm
• Temper Tantrums(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/tantrums.html
• Trichotillomania(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/trichotillomania
• Understanding Violent Behavior in Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Understanding+Violent+Behavior+In+Children+and+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families

Related Issues

• How Can I Better Understand My Child's Temperament?(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BK5_Temperament.htm
• Myth of the Bad Kid(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0021/default.asp
• Myth of the Bad Parent(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0035/default.asp
• Your Child's Habits(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/five_habits.html

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Behavior Disorders(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=%22behavior+disorders%22+%5BCONDITION%5D+AND+child+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Conduct Disorder(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Conduct+Disorder%22

Research

• Preschoolers' Severe Tantrums May Signal a Problem(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/research/tantrums.html

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Parent training. Helping parents help troubled children. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18985926&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Effect of parents' wartime deployment on the behavior of young... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18981347&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Video Interaction Guidance: a practitioner's perspective. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18834024&tool=MedlinePlus
• Child Behavior Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=child+behavior+disorders[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Directories

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/child_and_adolescent_psychiatrist_finder/child_and_adolescent_psychiatrist_finder

Organizations

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - http://www.aacap.org/
• American Academy of Pediatrics - http://www.aap.org/
• Center for Mental Health Services - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/
• National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Law and Policy

• Services in School for Children with Special Needs: What Parents Need to Know(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Services+In+School+For+Children+With+Special+Needs%3A+What+Parents+Need+To+Know&section=Facts+for+Families

Children

• Cheating(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/cheating.html
• Going to a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Therapist(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/going_to_therapist.html

Teenagers

• Cutting(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/cutting_esp.html
• Going to a Therapist(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/therapist.html
• Shoplifting(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/shoplifting.html
• Trichotillomania(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/trichotillomania.html

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder.html
• Child Development - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childdevelopment.html
• Child Mental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childmentalhealth.html
• Teen Development - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teendevelopment.html
• Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
• Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to the Category LIst or type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in the keywords into the Psychology Today “Search”.
• For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Sources: National Institute of Health, See blogposts in Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

The Best Resource Guide on Child Mental Health

It's easy to know when your child has a fever. A child's mental health problem may be harder to identify, but you can learn to recognize the symptoms. Pay attention to excessive anger, fear, sadness or anxiety. Sudden changes in your child's behavior can tip you off to a problem. So can behaviors like exercising too much, or hurting or destroying things.

Some common mental health problems in children are

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Behavior disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Mental health problems can disrupt daily life at home, at school or in the community. Without help, mental health problems can lead to school failure, alcohol or other drug abuse, family discord, violence or even suicide. However, help is available. Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns about your child's behavior.

Start Here

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0004/default.asp
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

Overviews

• Children and Adolescents with Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0006/default.asp
• Let's Talk Facts about Common Childhood Disorders(American Psychiatric Association) - Links to PDF - http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-CommonChildhood.pdf
  Also available in Spanish http://healthyminds.org/multimedia/commonchildhooddisordersespanol.pdf

Latest News

• Kids with Heart Defects May Face Future Problems(02/03/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74959.html
• Sporadic Binge Drinking in Pregnancy Can Harm Fetus(01/26/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74270.html
• Kids Who Are Most Independent Are Also More Active(01/26/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74263.html
• More News on Child Mental Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_c.html#childmentalhealth

Diagnosis/Symptoms

• Checklists for Preliminary Mental Health Screen(MADI Resource Center) - http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/schoolpsychiatry_checklists.asp
• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Comprehensive+Psychiatric+Evaluation&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Evaluacion+Siquiatrica+Comprensiva+No.+52
• Screening Tools and Rating Scales(MADI Resource Center) - http://www2.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/schoolpsychiatry_screeningtools.asp
• When to Seek Help for Your Child(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=When+To+Seek+Help+For+Your+Child&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Sepa+Cuando+Buscar+Ayuda+para+su+Hijo%2FHija+No.+24
• Your Child's Mental Health: What's Up Doc?(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ca-0033/default.asp

Treatment

• 11 Questions to Ask Before Psychiatric Hospitalization of Your Child or Adolescent(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=11+Questions+To+Ask+Before+Psychiatric+Hospitalization+Of+Your+Child+Or+Adolescent&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=11+Preguntas+a+Hacerse+Antes+de+Comenzar+el+Tratamiento+Siquiatrico+de+su+Nino+o+Adolescente+No.+32
• Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/antidepressant-medications-for-children-and-adolescents-information-for-parents-and-caregivers.shtml
• Continuum of Care for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=The+Continuum+Of+Care+For+Children+And+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=el+Cuidado+Continuo+%28%22Continuum+of+Care%22%29+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+42
• Medications(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/medications/complete-publication.shtml
• Mental Health Provider Degrees and Certifications(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00077/METHOD=print
• Psychiatric Medication for Children and Adolescents Part I: How Medications Are Used(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychiatric+Medication+For+Children+And+Adolescents+Part+I-How+Medications+Are+Used&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Medicamentos+Siquiatricos+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+Parte+I+-+Como+se+Usan+los+Medicamentos+No.+21
• Psychiatric Medication for Children and Adolescents Part II: Types of Medications(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychiatric+Medication++For+Children+And+Adolescents%3A+Part+II+-+Types+Of+Medications&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Medicamentos+Siquiatricos+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+29
• Psychiatric Medications for Children and Adolescents Part III: Questions to Ask(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychiatric+Medication+For+Children+And+Adolescents+Part+III%3A+Questions+To+Ask&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Medicamentos+Siquiatricos+para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+Parte+III%3A+Preguntas+Acerca+de+Ellos+No.+51
• Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychotherapies+For+Children+And+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=La+Sicoterapia+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+86
• Treatment of Children with Mental Disorders(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/treatment-of-children-with-mental-disorders/summary.shtml
• What Kind of Mental Health Professionals Are Trained to Help Children?(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_MentalHealth.htm

Prevention/Screening

• Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.family.samhsa.gov/

Coping

• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-violence-and-disasters-what-parents-can-do.shtml
• Helping Children Cope with Crisis: Just for Parents(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/cope_with_crisis_book/sub11.cfm
• Resources for Helping Children Cope with Trauma and Death(NYU Child Study Center) - Large PDF file - http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/aboutourkids_resources_helping_children_cope_trauma_death

Disease Management

• Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs(Center for Mental Health Services) - Large PDF file - http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/SMA-4054/SMA-4054.pdf
  Also available in Spanish http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/sma%2D4054S/

Specific Conditions

• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - Links to PDF - http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/age_related_reactions.pdf
• Behavioral / Mental Health(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/behavior.cfm
• Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-children-and-teens-easy-to-read.shtml
• Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0007/default.asp
• Emotional Disturbance(National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities) - http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Specific/Pages/EmotionalDisturbance.aspx
  Also available in Spanish http://www.nichcy.org/Documents/Spanish%20pubs/FS5SP.pdf
• Helping Kids Handle Worry(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/worrying.html
• Major Depression in Children and Adolescents(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ca-0011/default.asp
• Panic Disorder in Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Panic+Disorder+In+Children+And+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=El+Desorden+del+Panico+en+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+50
• Reactive Attachment Disorder(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Reactive+Attachment+Disorder&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Desorden+de+Apegamiento+Reactivo+No.+85
• Schizophrenia in Children(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF980C-1372-4D20-C8BA1DC89DBEAD32
• Separation Anxiety(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/separation_anxiety.html
• Somatoform Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch286/ch286m.html
• Understanding Child Traumatic Stress(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_aud_prnt_under
  Also available in Spanish http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/edu_materials/Entendamoselestrtraumtico.pdf

Related Issues

• Back to School(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/children-s-mental-health/back-to-school--homepage
• Children and Grief(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+And+Grief&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Los+Ninos+y+la+Pena+por+la+Muerte+de+un+ser+Querido+No.+8
• Children of Parents with Mental Illness(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+Of+Parents+With+Mental+Illness&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Los+Hijos+de+Enfermos+Mentales+No.+39
• Common Questions about Child and Teen Mental Health(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/expertopinion20.cfm
• Myths & Facts about Mental Health(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/publications/myths_facts.aspx
• Partnering with Your Child's School: A Guide for Parents(HSC Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.hscfoundation.org/aboutus/publications/partnering_with_schools_english_guide.pdf
  Also available in Spanish http://www.hscfoundation.org/aboutus/publications/partnering_with_schools_spanish_guide.pdf
• Psychiatric Effects of Media Violence(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/mediaviolence.cfm
• Talking to Kids about Fear and Violence(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/children-s-mental-health/talking-to-kids-about-fear-and-violence
• Talking to Kids about Mental Illnesses(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Talking+To+Kids+About+Mental+Illnesses&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Cuando+se+Habla+a+los+Ninos+Acerca+de+las+Enfermedades+Mentales+No.+84
• Their House - My House: Raising Your Child in Two Different Homes(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://www.family.samhsa.gov/set/divorce.aspx
• What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/children-s-mental-health/what-every-child-needs-for-good-mental-health
• Your Child’s Mental Health: Building Self-Esteem in Children(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0048/default.asp
• Your Child’s Mental Health: Moving: Easing the Transition(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0046/default.asp

Health Check Tools

• Stress-O-Meter(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourlife/yourlife_stressometer.html

Financial Issues

• Children's Mental Health — Insurance and Payment Issues(American Academy of Pediatrics) - http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZ6FQ868SD

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Mental Disorders(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=%22mental+disorders%22+%5BCONDITION%5D+AND+child+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Mental Health(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=child+%5BAGE-GROUP%5D+AND+%22mental+health%22+%5BALL-FIELDS%5D

Research

• Task Force Finds Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Effective for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Trauma(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/task-force-finds-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-effective-for-children-and-adolescents-exposed-to-trauma.shtml

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Five-year neurocognitive and health outcomes after the neonatal arterial switch... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19114183&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Sleep hygiene for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19047255&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Mental illness in young adults who had strabismus as children. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18977984&tool=MedlinePlus
• Child Mental Health -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=mental+disorders[majr:noexp]+AND+(child[mh]+OR+infant[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+(guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
• Child mental wellness -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=mental+health[majr]+AND+(child[mh]+OR+infant[mh])+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

• Glossary of Terms: Child and Adolescent Mental Health(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0005/default.asp

Directories

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finder(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/child_and_adolescent_psychiatrist_finder/child_and_adolescent_psychiatrist_finder

Organizations

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - http://www.aacap.org/
• Center for Mental Health Services - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/
• Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network - http://www.nctsn.org/
• National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Law and Policy

• Services in School for Children with Special Needs: What Parents Need to Know(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Services+In+School+For+Children+With+Special+Needs%3A+What+Parents+Need+To+Know&section=Facts+for+Families

Statistics

• NCHS Survey Measures Catalog: Child and Adolescent Mental Health(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/NCHS/measurescatalog/camh.htm
• Use of Mental Health Services in the Past 12 Months by Children Aged 4-17 Years: 2005-2006(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db08.htm

Children

• Going to a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, or Therapist(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/going_to_therapist.html
• Storm in My Brain: Kids and Mood Disorders (Bipolar Disorder and Depression)(Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) - Large PDF file - http://www.dbsalliance.org/pdfs/storm.pdf

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

• Bullying - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bullying.html
• Child Behavior Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childbehaviordisorders.html
• Mental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealth.html
• Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
• Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to the Category list or type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in the keywords into the Psychology Today “Search”.
• For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Sources: National Institute of Health, See blogposts in Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

The Best Resource Guide on Teen Mental Health

Being a teenager is hard. You're under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with your family and make big decisions. You can't avoid most of these pressures, and worrying about them is normal. But feeling very sad, hopeless or worthless could be warning signs of a mental health problem.

Mental health problems are real, painful and sometimes severe. You might need help if you have the signs mentioned above, or if you

• Often feel very angry or very worried
• Feel grief for a long time after a loss or death
• Think your mind is controlled or out of control
• Use alcohol or drugs
• Exercise, diet and/or binge-eat obsessively
• Hurt other people or destroy property
• Do reckless things that could harm you or others

Mental health problems can be treated. To find help, talk to your parents, school counselor or health care provider.

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0004/default.asp
• Understanding Your Teenager's Emotional Health(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html
  Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html

Overviews

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml

Latest News

• Teen TV Time Tied to Adult Depression(02/02/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74940.html
• Weight Affects White, Hispanic Kids' Mental Health(01/27/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_74375.html
• Some Teens More Prone to Depression from Bullying(01/15/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73842.html
• More News on Teen Mental Health http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_t.html#teenmentalhealth

Diagnosis/Symptoms

• Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Comprehensive+Psychiatric+Evaluation&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Evaluacion+Siquiatrica+Comprensiva+No.+52
• Teen Mental Health Problems: What Are the Warning Signs(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0023/default.asp

Treatment

• 11 Questions to Ask Before Psychiatric Hospitalization of Your Child or Adolescent(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=11+Questions+To+Ask+Before+Psychiatric+Hospitalization+Of+Your+Child+Or+Adolescent&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=11+Preguntas+a+Hacerse+Antes+de+Comenzar+el+Tratamiento+Siquiatrico+de+su+Nino+o+Adolescente+No.+32
• Antidepressants for Children: Explore the Pros and Cons(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/MH00059/METHOD=print
• Continuum of Care for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=The+Continuum+Of+Care+For+Children+And+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=el+Cuidado+Continuo+%28%22Continuum+of+Care%22%29+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+42
• Going to a Therapist(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/therapist.html
• How Can I Stop Cutting?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/resisting_cutting.html
• Mental Health Provider Degrees and Certifications(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00077/METHOD=print
• Psychiatric Medications for Children and Adolescents Part III: Questions to Ask(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychiatric+Medication+For+Children+And+Adolescents+Part+III%3A+Questions+To+Ask&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Medicamentos+Siquiatricos+para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+Parte+III%3A+Preguntas+Acerca+de+Ellos+No.+51
• Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychotherapies+For+Children+And+Adolescents&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=La+Sicoterapia+Para+Ninos+y+Adolescentes+No.+86
• Questions and Answers on Antidepressant Use in Children, Adolescents, and Adults(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/QA20070502.htm

Coping

• Coping with Cliques(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/cliques.html
• Dealing with a Health Condition(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/deal_chronic_illness.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/deal_chronic_illness_esp.html
• Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-violence-and-disasters-what-parents-can-do.shtml
• Helping Your Children Navigate Their Teenage Years: A Guide for Parents(White House Council on Youth Violence) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0013/default.asp

Specific Conditions

• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - Links to PDF - http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/age_related_reactions.pdf
• Anxiety Disorders(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/anxiety.html
• Bipolar Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/bipolar.html
• Body Image and Self-Esteem(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/body_image/body_image.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/body_image_esp.html
• Cutting(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/cutting_esp.html
• Depression(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/depression.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/depression_esp.html
• Fears and Phobias(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/phobias.html
• Let’s Talk Facts about Teen Suicide(American Psychiatric Association) - Links to PDF - http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-TeenSuicide.pdf
  Also available in Spanish http://healthyminds.org/multimedia/teensuicideespanol.pdf
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/ocd.html
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/ptsd.html
• Seasonal Affective Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/sad.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/sad_esp.html
• Social Phobia(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/social_phobia.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/social_phobia_esp.html
• Trichotillomania(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/trichotillomania.html
• Understanding Child Traumatic Stress(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_aud_prnt_under
  Also available in Spanish http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/edu_materials/Entendamoselestrtraumtico.pdf

Related Issues

• BAM! Guide to Getting Along(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourlife/yourlife_conflict.html
• Common Questions about Child and Teen Mental Health(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/expertopinion20.cfm
• Homesickness(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/homesickness.html
• How Can I Deal with My Anger(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/deal_with_anger.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/deal_with_anger_esp.html
• How Can I Help a Friend Who Cuts?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/friend_cuts.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/friend_cuts_esp.html
• Partnering with Your Child's School: A Guide for Parents(HSC Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.hscfoundation.org/aboutus/publications/partnering_with_schools_english_guide.pdf
  Also available in Spanish http://www.hscfoundation.org/aboutus/publications/partnering_with_schools_spanish_guide.pdf
• Peer Pressure(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/peer_pressure.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/peer_pressure_esp.html
• Talking to Kids about Mental Illnesses(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Talking+To+Kids+About+Mental+Illnesses&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=Cuando+se+Habla+a+los+Ninos+Acerca+de+las+Enfermedades+Mentales+No.+84
• When Your Child Needs Substance Abuse Treatment(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.family.samhsa.gov/get/treatment.aspx
• Why Am I in Such a Bad Mood?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/bad_mood.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/bad_mood_esp.html

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Teen Mental Health(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=%22mental+health%22+AND+%28teen+OR+adolescents%29

Research

• Adolescents with Depression Not Harmed in Studies Using Placebo(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2009/adolescents-with-depression-not-harmed-in-studies-using-placebo.shtml
• Anxious and Depressed Teens and Adults: Same Version of Mood Gene, Different Brain Reactions(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/anxious-and-depressed-teens-and-adults-same-version-of-mood-gene-different-brain-reactions.shtml
• Clues to Role of Brain Development as Risk for Mental Disorders May Also Lead to Better Treatments(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/clues-to-role-of-brain-development-as-risk-for-mental-disorders-may-also-lead-to-better-treatments.shtml
• Depression Relapse Less Likely among Teens Who Receive CBT After Medication Therapy(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/depression-relapse-less-likely-among-teens-who-receive-cbt-after-medication-therapy.shtml

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Clinical characteristics of ADHD in Thai children. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19133526&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Analysis of parasuicide, psychiatric care and completed suicides, implications for... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19127887&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Psychosocial and familial functioning of children from polygynous and monogamous... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19058661&tool=MedlinePlus
• Teen Mental Health -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=mental+health[majr]+AND+adolescent[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
• Teen mental health problems -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(adolescent+behavior/psychology[majr]+NOT+(eating+disorders[majr]+OR+obesity[majr]))+OR+(mental+disorders[majr:noexp]+AND+adolescent[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+(guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

• Glossary of Symptoms & Mental Illnesses Affecting Teenagers(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Resources+for+Families&name=Glossary+of+Symptoms+and+Mental+Illnesses+Affecting+Teenagers
• Glossary of Terms: Child and Adolescent Mental Health(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0005/default.asp

Directories

• Mental Health Services Locator(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/

Organizations

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - http://www.aacap.org/
• Center for Mental Health Services - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/
• KidsHealth(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/index_noflash.html
• Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
• National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/

Statistics

• NCHS Survey Measures Catalog: Child and Adolescent Mental Health(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/NCHS/measurescatalog/camh.htm
• Use of Mental Health Services in the Past 12 Months by Children Aged 4-17 Years: 2005-2006(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db08.htm
• What a Difference a Friend Makes: Social Acceptance Is Key to Mental Health Recovery(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA07-4257/default.asp

Men

• Guy's Guide to Body Image(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/beautiful/male_bodyimage.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/male_bodyimage_esp.html

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

• Alcohol and Youth - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholandyouth.html
• Bullying - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bullying.html
• Child Mental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childmentalhealth.html
• Mental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealth.html
• Teen Violence - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenviolence.html
• Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
• Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, go to “Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults” or type in the keywords into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in the keywords into the Psychology Today “Search”.
• For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keywords into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

Sources: National Institute of Health, See blogposts in Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

Are Anxious and Depressed Teens and Adults the Same or Different?

An NIMH study using brain imaging shows that some anxious and depressed adolescents react differently from adult patients when looking at frightening faces. This difference occurs even though the adolescent and adult patients have the same version of a mood gene. Researchers in the NIMH Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program and colleagues reported these findings online October 31, 2008, in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Background

Anxiety and depression are influenced by the processing of the mood-regulating brain chemical called serotonin. A protein known as the serotonin transporter directs serotonin from the space between nerve cells back into the cells, where it can be reused. Changes in the gene that codes for the serotonin transporter can lead to decreased transport of serotonin back into the brain’s nerve cells. Abnormalities in the serotonin system are associated with anxiety and depression.

Everyone inherits two copies of the serotonin transporter gene—one from each parent. The gene has various versions—one version is short, and one version is long. A person may have two copies of the same version or one copy each of two different versions. Previous studies in adults have linked versions of the gene to increased risk for mood and anxiety disorders. Adults who have one copy of the short version tend to be more anxious and depressed than adults who have two copies of the long version.

Previous brain imaging studies in adults linked gene versions to different responses of the brain’s fear hub—the amygdala—to frightened faces. In both healthy and affected adults who have at least one copy of the short version, the amygdala reacts more than it does in healthy or affected adults who have two copies of the long version of the gene. Whether these findings in adults also hold true for adolescents was unknown.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Jennifer Y. F. Lau, Ph.D., then at NIMH and now at the University of Oxford, U.K., and colleagues at NIH scanned the brains of 33 healthy teens and 31 teens with depression and anxiety disorders while they viewed pictures of frightened faces. Then the investigators compared the amygdala reactions in the two groups.

Findings of This Study

Lau and colleagues found that in healthy adolescents who have at least one copy of the short version of the gene, the amygdala reacts more than it does in healthy adolescents who have two copies of the long version. This result is the same in healthy adults. However, in anxious or depressed adolescents, the opposite results were found. In affected adolescents who have at least one copy of the short version, the amygdala reacts less than it does in affected adolescents who have two copies of the long version.

Significance

This finding in affected teens with two long version genes is the opposite of that observed in anxious or depressed adults. It is surprising because anxiety and depression during adolescence tend to predict these disorders during adulthood.

What’s Next?

The unexpected finding may be explained by the fact that anxious adults and anxious adolescents react differently when presented with threats. But further research is needed to fully understand the difference, the investigators say.

Reference

Lau JY, Goldman D, Buzas B, Fromm SJ, Guyer AE, Hodgkinson C, Monk CS, Nelson EE, Shen PH, Pine DS, Ernst M. Amygdala Function and 5-HTT Gene Variants in Adolescent Anxiety and Major Depressive Disorder. Biological Psychiatry. 2008 Oct 23. [Epub ahead of print].

Sources: National Insittute of Mental Health, See also blogposts in: Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

More Great Patient Resources on Adolescent Development

The time during your teens when you become sexually mature is called puberty. It is a physical change that usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys.

Some changes occur in both boys and girls, including

• Growing taller
• Weighing more
• Acne
• Growing underarm and pubic hair

In addition, girls develop breasts and begin their periods. Boys become more muscular, their voices deepen, and their penises and testicles become larger. You might also notice changes in the way you think and feel.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

• Growth and Your 13-to 18-Year-Old(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growth/growth_13_to_18.html
• Puberty: What to Expect When Your Child Goes through Puberty(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/parents-teens/445.printerview.html
  Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/parents-teens/445.printerview.html

Overviews

• Adolescents(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch270/ch270a.html
• Normal Adolescent Development - Late High School Years and Beyond(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Normal+Adolescent+Development+Part+II&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=el+Desarrollo+Normal+en+la+Adolescencia%3A+Los+ultimos+anos+de+la+escuela+secundaria+y+mas+alla+No.+58
• Normal Adolescent Development - Middle School and Early High School Years(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Normal+Adolescent+Development+Part+I&section=Facts+for+Families
  Also available in Spanish http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Informacion+para+la+Familia&name=el+Desarrollo+Normal+de+la+Adolescencia%3A+La+escuela+intermedia+y+los+primeros+anos+de+la+secundaria+No.+57

Specific Conditions

• Am I in a Healthy Relationship?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/healthy_relationship.html
• Body Image and Self-Esteem(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/body_image/body_image.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/body_image_esp.html
• Delayed Puberty(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/changing_body/delayed_puberty.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/delayed_puberty_esp.html
• Everything You Wanted to Know about Puberty(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/changing_body/puberty.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/puberty_esp.html
• Problems in Adolescents(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch271/ch271a.html
• Puberty(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Puberty.cfm
• Relationship Development(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1519/mainpageS1519P0.html
• Sexual Attraction and Orientation(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/sexual_orientation.html
• What's the Right Weight for My Height?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/weight_height.html
• Your Child's Changing Voice(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/changing_voice.html

Related Issues

• Communication and Your 13-to 18-Year-Old(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/communication/comm_13_to_18.html
• Talking to Your Child about Puberty(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/talk_about_puberty.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/crecimiento/talk_about_puberty_esp.html
• Talking to Your Doctor(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/medical_care/talk_doctor.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/talk_doctor_esp.html
• Understanding Your Teenager's Emotional Health(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html
  Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html

Health Check Tools

• Children's Growth Calculator(MAGIC Foundation) - http://www.magicfoundation.org/Growth_chart/main_growthchart.html

Videos

• Adolescence(Healthy Roads Media) - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engadol.htm

Anatomy/Physiology

• Female Reproductive System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/changing_body/female_repro.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/female_repro_esp.html
• Male Reproductive System(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/changing_body/male_repro.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/male_repro_esp.html
• Understanding Growth Charts(MAGIC Foundation) - http://www.magicfoundation.org/www/docs/7.1717

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Puberty(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=puberty

Research

• Teenage Brain: A Work in Progress(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/teenage-brain-a-work-in-progress.shtml
• Uneven Regional Brain Development Contributes to Adolescent Risk-Taking(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://www.nida.nih.gov/NIDA_notes/NNvol21N3/uneven.html

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Revisiting the legal standards that govern requests to sterilize profoundly... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18985934&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Implementation quality of a positive youth development program: cross-case analyses... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18956123&tool=MedlinePlus
• Article: Positive school and classroom environment: precursors of successful implementation of... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18956122&tool=MedlinePlus
• Teen Development -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=adolescent+development[majr]+AND+english[la]&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Organizations

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - http://www.aacap.org/
• American Academy of Family Physicians - http://familydoctor.org/
• KidsHealth(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/index_noflash.html
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/

Men

• I'm a Guy ... So How Come I'm Developing Breasts?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/question/just_guys/boybrst.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/boybrst_esp.html
• Is My Penis Normal?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/guys/penis.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/penis_esp.html

Women

• Can I Make My Breasts Larger?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/expert/body/larger_breasts.html
  Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/sexual/larger_breasts_esp.html
• Changes in Your Body(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://www.girlshealth.gov/body/
• I've Never Had My Period, So What Is This Discharge?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/vdischarge.html
• Why Are My Breasts Different Sizes?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/breast_size.html
• Why Are My Breasts Sore?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/sore_breasts.html

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

• Teen Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenhealth.html
• Teen Sexual Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teensexualhealth.html
• Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
• Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html

Sources: National Insittute of Mental Health, See also blogposts in: Psychiatric Disorders: Adolescents and Young Adults

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

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Can Behavioral Intervention Normalize Stress-related Hormone in High-Risk Kids?

Family Intervention that Improves Behavior, Social Skills Also Improves Cortisol Patterns

A family-based behavioral intervention that helps prevent social and behavior problems in high-risk preschoolers also may help normalize their cortisol levels when they anticipate stressful situations, results of a new NIMH study suggest.  Cortisol is a hormone that regulates response to stress.  Imbalances in stress regulation are thought to contribute to the development of some mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders and depression.

Results of the study were published in the October issue of Archives of General Psychiatry by NIMH investigators Laurie Miller Brotman, PhD, and Daniel S. Pine, MD, and colleagues.

Studies show that children who are developing normally and are at low risk of developing antisocial behavior and conduct problems have a boost in cortisol when facing stress.  However, some studies have shown that the boost in cortisol does not occur in children at high risk of developing these problems.

The preschoolers in this study were told they would be playing with an unfamiliar group of children later, a stressful situation for this age group.  Children were identified as high risk for psychopathology if they had been exposed to a combination of several risk factors; for example, parenting practices that promote behavior problems, siblings in trouble with the law, mothers with mental disorders, and poverty.

About half of the 92 high-risk children and their families were offered almost six months of a weekly intervention shown by previous research to improve parenting practices and children’s social skills.  The other half of the group did not receive the intervention.

When anticipating the play session, high-risk children who had gone through the intervention had cortisol boosts similar to those in low-risk children.  But children who had not gone through the intervention lacked this normal increase in cortisol.

“This anticipatory increase in cortisol may have developed in us as a signal that stress is warranted – that something in our environment is important and we need to pay attention to it,” Pine said.  “Children who don’t show this pattern may be less biologically equipped to adapt to stressful situations. That a family-based intervention was found to alter this important neurobiological system provides a window on the dynamic interaction of environment, behavior, and brain to shape the course of adaptive development in children.”

Reference:

Brotman LM, Gouley KK, Chesir-Teran D, Kamboukos D, Huang KY, Fratto C, Pine DS.  Effects of a psychosocial family-based preventive intervention on cortisol response to a social challenge in preschoolers at high risk for psychopathology.  Archives of General Psychiatry, October 2007.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

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Do children’s concerns about their parents relationship affect their school performance?

Mental health professional have long wondered about the relationship between marital conflict and the school performance of affected children. An article published in Modern Medicine Online (9/19/08) examines this issue. The article reports on a study published in the September-October 2008 issue of Child Development. The researchers studied “216 six-year-olds, their parents, and their teachers every year for three years.” And the results? “Attention problems were more frequent in children who were concerned about their parents' relationship a year after the concern was first identified. Child concerns were often based on actually seeing parental relationship problems firsthand.” The results of this study suggest that children who are concerned about their parents’ relationship may have increased attentional difficulties at school.

The Bottom Line: This study suggests that children who are concerned about their parents’ relationship have an increased risk of attentional difficulties at school.

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

The factsheet on childhood and adolescent mental health

The future of our country depends on the mental health and strength of our young people. However, many children have mental health problems that interfere with normal development and functioning. In the U.S. today, one in ten children suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to cause some level of impairment.

The mental disorders affecting children and adolescents include the following:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders)
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Depression
• Eating Disorders
• Schizophrenia

Related Information

• Treatment
  • Information about medications
  • Antidepressant Medications for Children and Adolescents: Information for Parents and Caregivers
• Information from NLM's MedlinePlus
  • Child Behavior Disorders
  • Child Mental Health
  • Teen Mental Health
• Traumatic Events
  • Coping with Traumatic Events
  • Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do
  • Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Community Members Can Do
  • Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Rescue Workers Can Do
  • Children and Violence

Materials for Children and Adolescents

• The Science of Mental Illness: An NIH curriculum supplement for middle school

Additional Resources:

• For related articles on child and adolescent mental health on the Web, click on: “Sphere: Related Content” located at the bottom of this blog post.
• For related books or blog posts with related content in Dr. Jeff’s and Dr. Tanya’s Blog, type in the keyword “child and adolescent mental health into “Google Search” located in the sidebar.
• For related articles from Psychology Today, click on the “Psychology Today” banner in the side bar and type in the keyword, “child and adolescent mental health” into the Psychology Today “Search”.
• For more books with related content, click any hyperlinked keyword in the blog or type in the keyword, “child and adolescent mental health” into “Amazon Search” on the Amazon banner located in the side bar.

 

Sources: National Institute on Mental Health, See also Psychiatry: Adolescents and Young Adults

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com

The spanking of children: A slippery slope to physical abuse?

Mental health professionals have long wondered about the possible negative effects of spanking as a way to discipline children. Now, an article published in HealthDay (8/25/08) examines this issue. The article reports on a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, in which researchers studied a group of mothers from North and South Carolina. The results of the study were sobering. The researchers found that “mothers who self-report spanking are 2.7 times more likely to report abuse. Increased frequency of spanking within the last year and spanking with an object significantly increased the odds of self-reporting abuse (odds ratios 1.03 and 8.9, respectively)…Although reported spanking increases the odds of reported physical abuse, the relationship between the reported hitting of a child with an object and reported abuse is much stronger…" This study suggests that spanking, especially spanking with an object, is associated with other forms of physical abuse of children by mothers.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study support the idea that spanking (especially when an object is used) is associated with other forms of physical abuse of children by mothers.

Reference: Original Article

Dr. Jeffrey Speller

Dr. Tanya Korkosz

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England

www.psychopharmassociates.com