Child & Youth Mental Health Algorithm - GPSC

ChildandYouthMentalHealthPSPModule TheLifeSpanandMentalDisorders:AnoverviewandusefultipsforprimarycarepracticeIntroductionMental disorders are disturbances of normal brain function that lead to definedsyndromes. Identified primarily for heuristic purposes, these syndromes aregrouped into categories by a presumed primary functional disturbance (e.g.,depression as a disorder of mood; ADHD as a disorder of cognition). However, it isself-evident that whatever the identified category for the mental disorder,functional disturbance is never limited to one brain function. Many brain functionsare involved for every mental disorder; for example depression is a mood disorderbut includes behavioural, cognitive and physical symptoms.Clearly, the developmental stage of the brain and the maturity of its variousfunctions will colour the presentation of mental disorders, so that there may besome life span differences in how these disorders present depending on anindividual’s age – a proxy measure for brain development. Similarly, all treatmentsfor mental disorders work by impacting various brain systems that are involved inthe control and development of every functional component. It is to be expectedthat there may be age-related differences in therapeutic efficacy and treatmentoutcomes for individual treatments, and is therefore important that the proper agespecificdiagnostic and therapeutic activities be understood and implemented in thetreatment of mental disorders.To a large degree, the social circumstances of every person are also age-related.For example, the role of the family, the role of institutions (such as school), theworkplace, peers, etc. all play a part in addressing mental disorders across the agespan. While it is well outside the scope of this brief overview to address thecomplexities of neurodevelopment and the age-related and ever changingenvironments that impact on a young person, primary care practitioners may applya number of useful insights to assist them in better understanding, diagnosis,treatment and management of common mental disorders in the primary health caresetting.Epidemiology of child and youth mental disordersUsing the degree of disability induced by medical conditions as the yardstick,mental disorders are the most burdensome health disorders found in children andadolescents. According to the World Health Organization, these disorders contributeResources - Lifespan of Mental Illnesses1of19