Chronic Mental Illness and the Changing Scope of Intervention Strategies, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Child and Adolescent Population
A significant proportion of the Child and Adolescent population suffer from a psychological or psychiatric disorder. It is estimated that at least 20% of the child and adolescent population is affected mental health problems and largely this is undetected. Some of the mental health problems are severe and disabling and tend to be chronic in nature. Childhood forms an important phase in the development period of life during which one develops physically, emotionally, socially, intellectually and morally. Chronic and severe mental health problems in children impact the overall development of the child thereby leading to significant and lifelong disability. The scope of this chapter has been narrowed to include two important chronic mental illness in children mainly Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mood Disorder. The Authors will discuss the clinical features, course, outcome and treatment strategies. Special issues in children are also discussed in terms of diagnosis and treatment.