AIME for Youth: Child & Adolescent Resources

AIME

Substantial need exists to prepare healthcare professionals to manage the increasing prevalence of mental health conditions, specifically in the child and adolescent population.

  • According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP, 2018), 13%-20% of U.S. children, nearly 1 in 5, have a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder in a given year. 
  • Furthermore untreated mental disorders compromise developmental achievement and place youth at risk for school failure, teenage pregnancy, violence, and the development of comorbid substance use disorders and chronic medical conditions. 
  • The limited access to quality mental health care has become a national crisis with estimates that only 20% of affected children receive appropriate treatment, in part due to a national shortage of psychiatric providers, particularly in rural areas (AACAP, 2018).
  • PMHNPs are positioned to address this shortage with their unique skill set of establishing therapeutic relationships with patients and families, conducting a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation including a developmental assessment, and instituting a treatment plan comprised of psychoeducation, psychotherapy, and medication management, as indicated. 
More Information:
ADHD
Suicide
Anxiety

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which causes individuals to have difficulties in school, home, or with friends.  In 2016, the CDC reported that 6.1 million children ages 2 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD which accounts for approximately 9.4% of children. ADHD is diagnosed in childhood and can continue into adulthood.   

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

All children daydream, are full of energy, and are impulsive at times.  Many parents find themselves worrying about whether or not their child’s behavior is “normal.”  A child with ADHD, however, will display this much more often, much more severely, and it will have an impact on their ability to function at school, home, or during their social activities.

Symptoms in the Inattention category include:

  • Poor attention to detail or careless mistakes
  • Difficulty maintaining focus during tasks or play
  • Appearing to be daydreaming
  • Not following directions or not completing tasks 
  • Poor organizational skills or poor time management
  • Choosing activities that do not need lengthy focus or mental effort
  • Disorganized and losing things
  • Easily distracted
  • Forgetfulness

Symptoms in the Hyperactivity/Impulsivity category include:

  • Fidgeting or squirming often
  • Not staying seated when sitting is the expectation
  • Running or climbing when inappropriate
  • Inability to play or participate in activities quietly
  • Always busy or “on the go”
  • Excessive talking
  • Interrupts or blurts out response
  • Cannot wait for his or her turn
  • Intrudes into other’s conversations/activities/belongings

A commonly used assessment scale to diagnose ADHD is the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) Vanderbilt Assessment scale. This scale should not take the place of a thorough psychiatric evaluation and mental status assessment but can be used to provide additional information. There are four scales available including parent and teacher initial NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessments and parent and teacher Follow-up NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessments.

Resources:

Link to Vanderbilt Assessments and Scoring Instructions:

Suicide

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 (CDC, 2018).

Risk factors for suicide in youth include:

  • Presence of a mental disorder
  • Substance use
  • Personality disorder
  • Previous suicide attempts or history of self-injurious behavior
  • Impulsivity
  • Family factors such as family history of suicide, mental disorders, or substance use
  • Interpersonal losses-- relationship break-ups, the death of friends and peer rejection
  • School problems and academic stress
  • Bullying, cyber bullying
  • Mental and physical/sexual abuse 
  • Disciplinary trouble
  • Contagion imitation
  • Availability of means
    • Bilsen, 2018

Resources:

Link to SAFE-T and Columbia Suicide Assessments:

Link to Mood and Feelings Questionnaire and PHQ-9:

COPYRIGHT PERMISSION: Should you wish to administer the MFQ to your patients, you may download a PDF of any version of the MFQ free of charge. The authors only ask that they be cited in any published work.  

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in childhood, with up to 1 in 10 children and adolescents having an anxiety disorder. Some examples of anxiety disorders in children include Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Social Anxiety Disorder.

The presentation of anxiety can vary from child to child. Some children may present as shy and withdrawn whereas others may present as oppositional and disruptive. Frequently youth with anxiety present with somatic complaints such as belly pain and headaches. School refusal may be a common symptom.

Resources:

Link to SCARED and GAD-7 Assessments: