Child psychiatry

A child psychiatrist is a specialized medical doctor with the highest medical education who is skilled in diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, utilizing medication if necessary. A child psychiatrist specializes specifically in the realm of child, rather than adult, psychology, emotions, and behaviors, as they are vastly different.

To care for a child's mental health, a child psychiatrist requires knowledge of child psychology as well as an understanding of developmental stages. The specifics of child development vary in each stage of life, thus different indicators emerge at each life period that may suggest the need to visit a psychiatrist.

Common scenarios that may warrant seeking assistance from a psychiatrist include:

• Preschool age: language development disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hyperactivity, autism, etc.
• Elementary school age: learning disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, phobias, functional enuresis, social anxiety, etc.
• Adolescent age: addictions, behavioral disorders, depression and related disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, etc.

If necessary, consultation with a psychiatrist may be recommended by a family doctor, psychologist, or other specialist.

For precise and effective diagnosis and assistance for the child, psychosocial assessm.