Conditions We Treat

What We Treat

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Southern New Jersey treats all major mental illness and behavioral issues that occur during childhood or adolescence. These illnesses include (but are certainly not limited to):

ADHD or Attention Defiict Hyperactivity Disorder

One of the best-known disorders of childhood and adolescence. Fidgetiness, impulsivity, inattention–these are the hallmarks of ADHD. Now certainly every child is prone to these sypmtoms, but the question is one of functionality. That is, can the child (or adolescent) function in a school/structured setting? Are they getting in trouble because of their inability to pay attention? Are they falling behind in school work or are their grades declining even though they seem to understand the work? These are some of the questions which lead us to diagnose and treat ADHD.

Anxiety

An emotional state marked by feelings of constant worry which can show itself in many different symptoms from trouble with concentration, frequent headaches or stomach aches or even panic attacks. Panic attacks are periods of intense anxiety during which the child or adolescent may experience sweating, cold/clammy hands, chest pain or feeling like they cannot catch their breath and, of course, very intense anxiety. Anxiety can also show itself in obsessive or compulsive symptoms (OCD), social phobia, or trouble being around groups of people. Post-traumatic stress disorder is also classed as an anxiety disorder and can exhibit such symptoms at nightmares, fear of being watched/followed, flashbacks and myriad other symptoms

Drug-Induced or Organic Psychosis

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder is also characterized by trouble with impulsivity but in children and adolescence can look very different that its adult analog. In particular, children and adolescence tend not to have such severe mood swings between depression and mania (the two poles of bipolar). They tend to have more of what looks like an energetic depression or can be just really agitated and/or really easy to agitate. This can be difficult to distinquish between normal teen angst at times. The point here is that expert care is needed if one is to be able to diagnose and treat this disorder.

Depression

Depression can certainly occur in childhood and adolescence as well. Persistent feelings of sadness, trouble experiencing enjoyment or pleasure, feelings of hopelessness/helplessness, increased or decreased appetite and, in some severe cases, suicidal ideation all can occur. The point about depression is that this is a treatable condition and your child or adolescent doesn’t have to feel the way they do. Therapy and medication have been shown to be effective ways of managing this condition.