Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Some level of anxiety is normal for children, particularly when experiencing changes such as starting a new school. But if a child has anxiety at a level which is affecting daily life then it’s a good idea to speak to someone who can help.

Autism is a disability which affects an individual’s developmental process and impacts on how they communicate with others. Autism is a lifelong disability which affects people in very different ways. In many cases, individuals may need specialist support.

If your child has a short attention span, is restless and fidgety, and is prone to impulsive behaviour, then this could be a sign that they are affected by ADHD.

All children will have days when they feel down, especially during their teenage years. For some children though, these feelings can last for long periods and affect their day-to-day lives. This can indicate that the children are affected by depression.

Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, are serious mental conditions which can have a devastating impact on mental and physical health.

Mild to moderate learning difficulties can mean that a child takes longer than other children to learn new skills. Or a child may have trouble communicating with others. Diagnosing learning difficulties early can ensure that a child has the correct support needed in and out of school.

OCD is an anxiety disorder where children can become obsessed with a thought, often about something distressing, and then perform a compulsive behaviour to ease the anxiety. An example might be that a child is worried his mother might leave him. That worry then becomes an obsession which causes great anxiety and can only be reduced after performing a compulsion, such as excessive hand washing, counting, praying or hoarding useless items.

PTSD can occur if a child has experienced something extremely distressing or had a life-threatening experience. Symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, problems sleeping, anxiety and depression.

Psychosis is a serious mental disorder which can cause individuals to experience a range of distressing symptoms, including hallucinations, hearing voices, paranoia and believing they have control over uncontrollable events.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness which can be difficult to recognise, particularly early-onset schizophrenia, where many of the symptoms are similar to depression or anxiety. A child suffering from this illness may display symptoms of psychosis or they may become withdrawn and unmotivated.