The symptoms for these conditions are not easy to detect. Left unaddressed, they can develop into severe behavioral complications and may even lead to suicide. However, evaluating a child’s mental health through questionnaires prepared by DSM-4 are the most reliable ways of identifying these abnormalities. Unfortunately, there is no cure for these ailments. If genetically predisposed children can learn some coping techniques, then the severity of the condition during adulthood can be mitigated. Social Phobia is a unique disorder in that it could be caused by cultural factors (Lemmey et. al., 2001). If a child feels alienated and left-out from its peers and caretakers, then it feels intimidated and suspicious of people and develops a negative image of their culture. Medicines from the anti-depressant and anti-psychotic categories are usually effective, but only temporarily. Talk-therapy can be useful; so is educating family and friends of the affected child (Dodge, 1993).
Hence, a broad range of factors can contribute to the development of emotional disorders in children and adolescents. The primary caretakers in the family have an important role to play in preventing negative outcomes for the children. So do school authorities and teachers. Every child needs to be loved and cared for. If such basic necessities are absent or insufficient then the psychological as well as physical health of the child will decline.
References:
Stewart, A (Nov 1999)., Brain Structure and Neuro-cognitive and Behavioral function in adolescents who were born very preterm., Pediatrics, 104, 5. p.1116
Dodge, K A (Annual 1993). Social-cognitive mechanisms in the development of conduct disorder and depression. Annual Review of Psychology, 44, p.559(26).
Lemmey, D., Malecha, A., McFarlane, J., Willson, P., Watson, K., Gist, J. H., Fredland, N., & Schultz, P. (May 2001). Severity of Violence Against Women Correlates with Behavioral Problems in Their Children.. Pediatric Nursing, 27, 3.. p.265.
Byrd, R S, Weitzman, M., & Auinger, P. (Oct 1997). Increased behavior problems associated with delayed school entry and delayed school progress. Pediatrics, 100, n4.. p.654(8).