Child Psychiatry

Child Psychiatry services offered in Cherry Creek, Denver, CO

Children are just as vulnerable to mental health problems as adults and require expert diagnosis and treatment. If you have concerns about your child’s mental well-being, the experts at Paramount Health Directions in Denver, Colorado, can help. They have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, and eating disorders in young people. For comprehensive and compassionate child psychiatry services, call Paramount Health Directions or request an appointment online today.

What is child psychiatry?

Child psychiatry is a medical specialty focusing on mental health conditions affecting young people.

Psychiatric issues are just as significant a problem for children and adolescents as adults, and some conditions are more common in children.

What symptoms do children’s psychiatric disorders cause?

Symptoms that indicate your child might be struggling with a psychiatric problem include:

Deep sadness that persists for at least two weeks
Avoiding social situations and friends
Self-harm
Extreme irritability and loss of temper
Self-destructive behavior
Drastic personality or mood changes
Weight or appetite changes
Problems sleeping
Deteriorating grades
Loss of interest in activities they usually enjoy

Spotting the signs of mental health problems in adolescents and teens can be particularly challenging as they’re going through the upheaval of puberty. The changes in hormones that occur at this time can often trigger behavioral changes and other signs of mental health problems.

What conditions does child psychiatry treat?

The child psychiatry professionals at Paramount Health Directions treat a wide range of both mental health and developmental disorders in children of all ages. Some of the conditions they encounter most often include:

Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa
Depression and other mood disorders
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Generalized anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

In older teens, schizophrenia can also be a problem.

What treatments are used in child psychiatry?

Treatment options that could help your child include:

Talking therapies

There are various types of talking therapies used in child psychiatry. Psychotherapy involves talking to a member of the mental health team at Paramount Health Directions to explore the child’s thoughts and feelings and look for underlying causes of their problems.

Children and adolescents benefit from sharing their feelings and learning why they feel the way they do. They can also learn coping skills and new behaviors using approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Medication

In some cases, medication may be necessary to reduce the severity of your child’s symptoms. Stimulants, for example, can be beneficial in treating ADHD.

Paramount Health Directions also offers innovative treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive, safe option for depression and other mental health problems in children.

If you have concerns about your child’s mental health, talk to the child psychiatry professionals at Paramount Health Directions. Call their office or book an appointment online today.