Age of mental illness symptoms and diagnosis

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Age of mental illness symptoms and diagnosis

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The American Association of Pediatrics just released new guidelines stating that ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can be diagnosed in a child as young as four years of age. This has stuck a lot of people as somewhat controversial because as the younger the child is, the less there's scientific evidence about the use of medication treatment. So people are interested in trying to identify problems earlier without labeling children. SO the idea that a child could have symptoms that are significant at age four has been something of a revolution in the field and has cause a lot of back and forth. I do think that some people would say that by the school years, some people are clearly noticing that their child is depressed, sad, not sleeping well, and talking about dying or killing themselves. That child could be in third grade. That child has a clinical depression. So while maybe it seems shocking if all you know are healthy children, many of the kids under the age of 14 or 15 are dealing with real emotional vulnerability.

Learn about: Age of mental illness symptoms and diagnosis from Kenneth Duckworth, MD,...

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Kenneth Duckworth, MD

Psychiatrist, Harvard Professor & Medical Director for NAMI

Ken Duckworth, MD, serves as the medical director for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He is triple board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult, Child and Adolescent, and Forensic Psychiatry and has extensive experience in the public health arena.

Dr. Duckworth is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at Harvard University Medical School, and has served as a board member of the American Association of Community Psychiatrists. Dr. Duckworth has held clinical and leadership positions in community mental health, school psychiatry and now also works as Associate Medical Director for Behavioral Health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Prior to joining NAMI in 2003, Dr. Duckworth served as Acting Commissioner of Mental Health and the Medical Director for Department of Mental Health of Massachusetts, as a psychiatrist on a Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team, and Medical Director of the Massachusetts Mental Health Center.

Dr. Duckworth attended the University of Michigan where he graduated with honors and Temple University School of Medicine where he was named to the medical honor society, AOA. While at Temple, he won awards for his work in psychiatry and neurology. He also has a family member living with mental illness.

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Transcription: 
The American Association of Pediatrics just released new guidelines stating that ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can be diagnosed in a child as young as four years of age. This has stuck a lot of people as somewhat controversial because as the younger the child is, the less there's scientific evidence about the use of medication treatment. So people are interested in trying to identify problems earlier without labeling children. SO the idea that a child could have symptoms that are significant at age four has been something of a revolution in the field and has cause a lot of back and forth. I do think that some people would say that by the school years, some people are clearly noticing that their child is depressed, sad, not sleeping well, and talking about dying or killing themselves. That child could be in third grade. That child has a clinical depression. So while maybe it seems shocking if all you know are healthy children, many of the kids under the age of 14 or 15 are dealing with real emotional vulnerability.