Let’s talk children's mental health: signs, symptoms, and disorders (Part 2)
Today, Dr. Heidi Kiefer, School and Clinical Child Psychologist, is helping us better understand the mental health disorders that might be at play.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
Dr. Kiefer says these involve intrusive, unwanted, and excessive preoccupations and rituals. The former typically cause distress, and the latter consists of repetitive behaviours or mental acts intended to reduce that distress.
Some specific examples of OCD include:
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder: preoccupation with perceived “flaws” in your physical appearance, even though these things are not observable to others
- Hoarding Disorder: persistent difficulty parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value
- Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder): recurrent pulling out of your hair, resulting in hair loss
- Excoriation (Skin-Picking Disorder): recurrent skin picking, resulting in skin lesions
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
According to Dr. Kiefer, these make it hard for children to control their emotions and behaviours. For example, they might have outbursts that spin out of control or constantly challenge authority figures.
Examples include:
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder: a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behaviour or vindictiveness
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder: difficulty controlling aggressive impulses, which can result in recurrent behavioural outbursts
- Conduct Disorder: persistent violations of the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate social norms
- Pyromania: deliberate fire setting on more than one occasion
- Kleptomania: recurrent difficulty resisting impulses to steal things they do not need
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
Dr. Kiefer says these can emerge after children experience traumatic or stressful events.
Some examples:
- Reactive Attachment Disorder: if a child experiences a pattern of extremely insufficient care, they may become inhibited and emotionally withdrawn toward adult caregivers
- Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder: this is another potential result of insufficient care. Here, the child starts actively approaching and interacting with unfamiliar adults
- Acute Stress Disorder: intrusion symptoms that emerge and resolve within 1 month of exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: intrusion symptoms lasting more than 1 month as a result of exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence
- Adjustment Disorders: emotional or behavioural responses to stressors that occur within 3 months of those stressors’ onset
If you’re concerned about your child or a child you know — or just want to support their mental and emotional well-being — speak with your health care provider. After all, Children’s Mental Health Week is about breaking down the stigma that can keep kids from getting the support they need.
About Dr. Heidi Kiefer Ph.D., C. Psych.
Dr. Heidi Kiefer, Ph.D., C. Psych., is a clinical child and adolescent psychologist. At Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital of Toronto, she primarily works within the Child Development Program. Her focus is developmental assessments with children under 5 years of age to explore queries related to Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, and other delays. Dr. Kiefer also works in private practice within Toronto and Oshawa, where she engages in individual and family therapy, parent counselling, and consultation services. She is an advocate for reducing the stigma related to mental health and advancing public funding for universal access to mental health services. Knowing how brave children and families are in seeking support, Dr. Kiefer is mindful of using creative and empathic practices to build rapport, understand experiences, and help them feel that they are not alone. To stay up to date with Dr. Kiefer or to connect with her, please follow her on Twitter.
