Treat mental disorders of children early

Mentally ill children should be treated prior to enrollment

11/10/2013

About ten percent of pre-school children are affected by mental disorders such as depression or ADHD, which are clinically relevant and therefore in need of treatment. Professor Alexander von Gontard, Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Saarland University Hospital, points out this at the symposium currently taking place „Mental disorders in preschool age“ in conversation with the news agency „dpa“ out. The specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry advises to treat mental disorders as early as possible, even before enrollment.

Early treatment of mentally disturbed children saves much suffering
Nearly 450 experts in Homburg are currently discussing the topic of mental disorders in children. „This conference is specifically dedicated to mental disorders in small and preschool children and aims to provide an overview of the current state of research, as well as on specific aspects of diagnostics and therapy. To this end, proven experts have kindly agreed to contribute their scientific findings and clinical experience to this conference“, is quoted by Professor Alexander von Gontard in a press release from the University Hospital. The expert explained in an interview with the news agency, what parents should pay attention to their children.

„According to many studies, about ten percent of preschool children have clinically relevant mental disorders, ie those with disabilities and high levels of suffering“, reports the expert. The range of errors is rich „from eating disorders, excessive crying over post-traumatic stress disorder to autistic and ADHD disorders“. If parents find their children conspicuous, the pediatrician is their first point of contact. „Educators or early intervention centers should increasingly encourage a mental image in psychiatric disorders. But many parents come by themselves“, explained by Gontard. Unfortunately, there are only a few centers here in Germany with a specialization in preschool children. The offer must be further expanded.

Parents are involved in therapy of mentally disturbed children
If a child shows behavioral problems, it must first be clarified whether this is actually a disorder that needs treatment. Heats already provide advice. „Then there is parent training, parent interaction training and parent groups. From the age of four, one can also perform individual therapies of the child“, said the specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry. „The younger the children are, the more important is the work on the parents and with the parents.“ Von Gontard advises to start treating mentally ill children before they can start school. This would prevent much suffering and secondary consequences.

Frequent diagnoses in children include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, Gontard advises caution. ADHD can be diagnosed at the age of three at the earliest. „For small children, ADHD often has significant social consequences, such as peer-to-peer issues, parents and carers, or exclusion from kindergarten.“ It must be done first, a parent-child training. Only if this does not prove successful, the child is severely limited due to the disorder and at least four years old, a drug therapy come into question. (Ag)

Picture: RIKE