Unlike traditional psychiatry, which rarely looks at the brain, Amen Clinics uses brain imaging technology to identify brain patterns associated with conditions that affect children and adolescents.
If your child or adolescent is struggling in school, acting out, rebellious, inattentive, sad and lonely, forgetful, disorganized, or hanging out with the wrong crowd, you may think it’s just normal growing pains and hope they will grow out of it. Many kids and teens do grow out of troublesome behavior and emotional problems, but not all of them do. When your child or adolescent’s troubling symptoms and behaviors persist and negatively impact their schoolwork, friendships, and home life, it’s time to seek help. Allowing a child’s symptoms to go unchecked can increase the chances of school failure, limit their opportunities to go to college, hamper their ability to get the job they want, and set them up for relationships filled with strife. In the worst case, it can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior.
The most commonly diagnosed conditions among kids and teens are ADD/ADHD, behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression. Other conditions that affect children and teens include bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), eating disorders, PANDAS, PTSD, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, aggression, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the latest statistics from the CDC, the number of youngsters diagnosed with these conditions, as well as the number who took their own lives are:
Be aware that it is not unusual for children to have more than one condition. For example, nearly 2 out of 3 youngsters diagnosed with ADD/ADHD also have one or more other mental health condition. About half of all kids with ADD/ADHD also have a behavior problem or conduct disorder, and about 1 in 3 have anxiety. If your child shows multiple signs and symptoms, it could mean that co-occurring disorders are at work. See below for a list of warning signs—from school struggles to anger issues—that your child may need help.
The most commonly diagnosed conditions among kids and teens are:
Our brain imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that “mental health” conditions in children and teens are actually “brain health” conditions. One of the most exciting neuroimaging findings is that conditions like ADD/ADHD, depression, and anxiety aren’t simple or single disorders. In addition, brain imaging shows that head trauma is a major cause of psychiatric illness in children and adolescents, but few people realize it. For young people, getting accurately diagnosed and starting treatment early can be more effective and can help prevent long-term issues.
Because young brains are still developing until a person’s mid-20s, untreated problems can alter brain development and lead to lasting problems in how the brain functions. For example, untreated ADD/ADHD increases the risk of depression, drug abuse, obesity, smoking, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.
SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) is a nuclear medicine study that evaluates blood flow and activity in the brain. Basically, it shows three things: healthy activity, too little activity, or too much activity. The healthy surface brain SPECT scan on the left shows full, even symmetrical activity. The scan on the right, taken during concentration, is from a child with ADD and reveals decreased blood flow and activity (the areas that look like “holes”) in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, one of 7 brain patterns associated with ADD.
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Contact UsIt can be difficult for parents to know if the problems your children are having are just a phase or if they’re signs of something more serious. Some of the many red flags that could indicate your child is suffering from a mental health condition include:
This can include consistently low moods, crankiness, and a lack of interest in pleasurable activities or extreme mood swings. Be aware of any inexplicable deviation from your child’s normal routine, moods, energy levels, behaviors, or school performance. Frequent temper tantrums, aggression, or defiance are red flags.
Ongoing academic troubles can be due to behavioral issues or attention problems.
Children who have overwhelming concerns that interfere with their ability do things or that undermine their performance at school may have anxiety.
Difficulty making friends or trouble connecting with others may be a warning sign of a deeper problem.
Some kids have physical tics or vocalizations, or they repetitively check things and get upset if they aren’t in the right order.
Frequent complaints about body aches, headaches, upset stomach with no known cause
Sleeping too much or having trouble staying asleep through the night is associated with several mental health conditions.
Avoiding eating, using laxatives, or vomiting may be signs of an eating disorder. Overeating can be a sign of using food to self-medicate bad feelings.
Some adolescents smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs as a way to self-medicate.
Hearing or seeing things others can’t see or hear is a red flag behavior that needs to be investigated.
Children and teens who injure themselves or engage in risky behavior need help.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and young adults ages 10-24, so if a child or teen is talking about suicide, it needs to be taken very seriously.
“When Your Brain Works Right, You Work Right”
– Daniel G. Amen, M.D.