Stimulant medications are most commonly used to treat children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD.  In addition, these medications are also used to treat symptoms of inattention and distractibility in other conditions, such as bipolar disorder and autism, when such symptoms remain severely impairing after the primary condition (such as bipolar disorder) has been treated. Regardless of the symptoms or disorder being targeted by stimulant medications, these medications do help many children focus and be more successful at school, home, and play.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are a class of antidepressants. While they are called "antidepressants," studies have shown that these medications are also effective in treating anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders as well. Due to their decreased adverse effects, increased safety, and easy administration, SSRIs have become the antidepressants of choice for prescribing physicians.

MOOD STABILIZERS IN CHILDREN: LITHIUM, VALPROIC ACID / DEPAKOTE, AND OTHERS

Mood stabilizers are most likely to be effective in treating manic excitement. These medications are frequently used to treat such mental disorders as depressive disorders, mania, and schizophrenia. Lithium, carbamazepine (Tegretol), and valproate are the common mood stabilizers used for treatment.

Interpersonal therapy is a form of short-term psychotherapy, usually consisting of 45-50 minute weekly sessions lasting for three to four months. The most common use of interpersonal therapy is in treating depressive disorders.

In interpersonal therapy, interpersonal behavior and relationships with others are emphasized. Losses in the child's or youth's life are also addressed.  A patient is assisted by the therapist in self-evaluating his or her interaction with others. Focus is on the individual's present social development, and attention is called to self-imposed isolation, which adds to their depression. The therapist aids the child in making decision and clarifying areas of conflict.

Individual therapy is frequently done in combination with family or group therapy, and, when needed, psychopharmacology. It may take the actual form of play therapy, art therapy, or several other applicable forms depending on the child's age, development and diagnosis.

Family therapy is mainly used when a problem involves some form of family conflict. This form of therapy is often augmented with individual therapy. When family therapy is used, it is often understood at the outset that a child will blame the parents for the problems.

All families typically have an established, often implicit/unconscious, structure and set of roles for each individual. The therapist helps the family to understand these roles and patterns and how they contribute to the child's problem(s) and behavior. The theory underlying family therapy is that the child will not change unless the whole system fosters change and itself changes the behaviors/roles which are reinforcing the child's misbehavior.

Informed families are savvy shoppers.  In essence, families and parents need to become armed with high quality information about the best, most effective help available, and how they can get their children this type of help.  REACH's parent empowerment programs, through which savvy, experienced parents help new parents learn the ropes of "the system" are one effective means of accomplishing this.

Another strategy is by reading of high quality materials about evidence-based practices and child mental health treatments.   Several recommended readings are available on the REACH website.  

Children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems deserve access to the best possible mental health care. Dr. David Fassler has complied specific tips and ideas which parents may find helpful as they advocate on behalf of their child's health.

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COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) therapy was developed by Ross Greene, PhD, and Stuart Ablon, MD.  One can learn more about this approach by reading the best-selling book "The Explosive Child" by Ross Greene.

Collaborative Problem Solving therapy offers an approach much different than the well-studied "behavior therapy" (also called parent skills training, parent training, or parent management training) for managing children who are often angry, disruptive, defiant, and/or explosive.  Many of these children may have been diagnosed with ADHD and/or conduct/oppositional defiant disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy combines many aspects of both cognitive therapy and behavior therapy. It teaches children to react differently to the situations and bodily sensations that trigger panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms, depression, or obsessive-compulsive. In addition, children also learn to understand how their thinking patterns contribute to their symptoms and how to change their thoughts so that symptoms are less likely to occur. This awareness of thinking patterns is combined with exposure and other behavioral techniques to help people confront their feared situations. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one form of evidence based treatments for child mental health disorders, particularly anxiety, depression, OCD, and aggression.  Many federally funded studies in children and youth with anxiety and depression have shown that CBT is most effective when combined with an evidence-based medication treatment.

Cognitive therapy as it is practiced today was developed by Aaron Beck in the 1970s, and was based on underlying theoretical assumption that a person's feelings and behavior are shaped by the way that he or she thinks about the world. According to this theory, the structure of a person's world is based on insights or reasonings, known as cognitions developed from previous experiences. Disorders in which cognitions may play a great role include obsessive-compulsive disorder, paranoid personality disorder, major depressive disorder, and somatoform disorders.