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Evaluation
by a child and adolescent psychiatrist is appropriate for
any child or adolescent with emotional or behavioral problems.
Most children and adolescents with serious emotional and behavioral
problems need a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
Comprehensive
psychiatric evaluations usually require several hours over
one or more office visits for the child, parents and family.
With the parents' permission, other significant people (such
as the family physician, school personnel or other relatives)
may be contacted for additional information.
The comprehensive
evaluation frequently includes the following:
- Description
of present problems and symptoms;
- Information
about health, illness and treatment (both physical and psychiatric);
- Parent
and family histories;
- Information
about the child's development;
- Information
about school and friends;
- Information
about family relationships;
- Psychiatric
interview of the child or adolescent;
- If
needed, laboratory studies such as blood tests, x-rays,
or special assessments (for example, psychological, educational,
speech and language evaluation).
The child
and adolescent psychiatrist then develops a formulation. The
formulation describes the child's problems and explains them
in terms that the parents and child can understand. Biological,
psychological and social parts of the problem are combined
in the formulation with the developmental needs, history and
strengths of the child or adolescent.
Time is
made available to answer the parents' and child's questions.
Parents
often come to such evaluations with many concerns, including:
- Is
my child normal? Am I normal? Am I to blame?
- Am
I silly to worry?
- Can
you help us? Can you help my child?
- Does
my child need treatment? Do I need treatment?
- What
is wrong? What is the diagnosis?
- What
are your recommendations? How can the family help?
- What
will treatment cost, and how long will it take?
Parents
are often worried about how they will be viewed during the
evaluation. The child and adolescent psychiatrist is there
to support the family and to be a partner, not to judge or
blame. They listen to concerns, and help the child or adolescent
and his/her family define the short and long-term goals of
the evaluation. Parents should always ask for explanations
of words or terms they do not understand.
When a
treatable problem is identified, recommendations are provided
and a specific treatment plan is developed. Child and adolescent
psychiatrists are specifically trained and skilled in conducting
comprehensive psychiatric evaluations with children, adolescents
and families.
Article
#52 Updated 11/95
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