Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in childhood can cause long-term pro
Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in childhood can cause long-term problems. Early treatment of a child’s mental health or behavioral problems can reduce problems at home, in school, in forming friendships, and can promote healthy development into adulthood.[1] Treatments include psychological therapy, parent training in behavioral management, and behavioral interventions for the classroom.
Psychological Therapies
Depending on the type and severity of the mental health disorder, psychological therapy for children may be used in combination with prescribed medication. Psychological therapy helps a child manage their symptoms so that they can function well at home, in school, and in their community. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) works well for children with disruptive behavior disorders, depression, and anxiety.
Psychological therapy is conducted by trained mental health professionals for children and can be done individually or in groups. Psychological therapy with children can include talking, playing, or other activities to help the child express feelings and thoughts. Therapists may also observe parents and children together and make suggestions for different ways to respond to disruptive behaviors.[2] See Table 12.3 for a list of psychological therapies considered effective for common conditions in children and adolescents.[3]
Table 12.3 Psychological Therapies for Various Conditions in Children and Adolescents
| Therapies | Description | Indications |
| Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
|
Teaches clients how to correct cognitive errors in thinking (such as, “nothing ever goes right for me”) and coaches them to try different behaviors (i.e., behavioral activation) to lead to changes in how they feel.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is a form of CBT for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). |
Anxiety disorders
Depressive disorders Oppositional defiant disorder Eating disorders Substance use disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder |
| Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) | Specialized version of CBT with skills groups (to teach problem-solving, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills), as well as individual therapy sessions. Mindfulness and meditation are often encouraged. | Chronic and significant suicide ideation and/or self-harm |
| Family Therapy | Sessions that focus on the family relationship or interaction patterns that cause dysfunction and assist the family members to amend that pattern (rather than saying the problem resides within an individual). | Eating disorders
Conduct disorder Depressive disorders Substance use disorders |
| Group Therapy | Addresses interaction pattern problems while also providing disorder-specific support within a group of strangers having similar challenges. Peer-based learning can be uniquely effective. | Anxiety disorders |
| Behavioral Management Training | Also known as parent management training, these programs tea