Childhood Emotional Disorders Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a nursing diagnosis related to a client's anxiety?

Chronic insomnia related to stress

Depression related to isolation

Bipolar disorder-related conflict

Anxiety (severe) related to family history (correct)

Which outcome indicates effective management of anxiety?

The client remains attached to the caregiver

The client interacts appropriately with others (correct)

The client experiences frequent panic attacks

The client avoids any social interaction

What nursing care focus aids a client dealing with separation anxiety?

Maintaining anxiety at an unmanageable level

Enforcing isolation from peers

Helping the client develop adaptive coping strategies (correct)

Encouraging complete dependency on a caregiver

Which characteristic is associated with intellectual developmental disorder (IDD)?

Deficits in reasoning and problem solving Signup and view all the answers

What is crucial for determining adaptive functioning in individuals?

Capacity to adapt to daily living activities Signup and view all the answers

What is a key indicator of a need for intervention in clients with ineffective coping?

Presence of somatic complaints Signup and view all the answers

At what age is separation anxiety disorder most commonly diagnosed?

5-6 years old Signup and view all the answers

Which age is significant regarding the onset of intellectual developmental disorder?

Onset prior to age 18 Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior is a typical manifestation of separation anxiety disorder?

Refusal to attend school Signup and view all the answers

What behavior must change within the family context for effective treatment?

Both the client and family members' behavior Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a predisposing factor for separation anxiety disorder?

Maternal depression Signup and view all the answers

What does a clinical assessment of general intellectual functioning include?

Performance on IQ tests Signup and view all the answers

What might be a common symptom experienced by younger children with separation anxiety disorder?

Shadowing the attached figure Signup and view all the answers

Which therapy is particularly helpful in treating separation anxiety disorder?

Family therapy Signup and view all the answers

What trait is indicative of impaired social interaction?

Reluctance to be away from an attachment figure Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic behavior of a child with separation anxiety disorder when facing anticipated separation?

Tantrums and clinging behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which of these symptoms is NOT commonly associated with separation anxiety disorder?

Increased academic performance Signup and view all the answers

Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear concerning separation from which individual?

A caregiver, typically the mother Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of treatment for separation anxiety disorder?

To help the child develop coping mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate nursing assessment for a child with separation anxiety disorder?

Inquiring about their grades at school Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction

Some mental disorders may not be diagnosed until later in life but symptoms present themselves in childhood.
It can be difficult to determine whether a child's behavior indicates emotional problems.
Emotional problems in children are likely if behaviors deviate from cultural norms, are not age appropriate, or interfere with adaptive functioning.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached.
Anxiety exceeds that which is expected for the person's developmental level.
Interferes with social, academic, occupational, or other areas of functioning.
Most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 6, upon starting school.
Predisposing factors:
- Biological: Genetics and temperament
- Environmental: Stressful life events
- Family: Parental overprotection, insecure parent-child attachment, and maternal depression
Treatment: Behavior therapy, family therapy, group therapy, and psychopharmacology.

Nursing Assessment

Onset can occur as early as preschool age, rarely as late as adolescence.
Separation anxiety most commonly presents as difficulty separating from the mother or maternal-rolled parent.
Occasionally, separation reluctance is directed toward the father, siblings, or other significant individuals.
Separation (or anticipation) results in:
- Tantrums, crying, screaming, complaints of physical problems, and clinging behaviors.
Common behaviors and symptoms:
- Reluctance or refusal to attend school, especially in adolescence.
- Younger children may "shadow", or follow around the person they fear being separated from.
- Worrying and nightmares are common.
- Specific phobias are not uncommon.
- Fear of sleeping away from home.
Nursing Diagnoses:
- Anxiety (severe) related to family history, temperament, overattachment to parent, negative role modeling.
- Ineffective coping related to unresolved separation conflicts and inadequate coping skills, evidenced by numerous somatic complaints.
- Impaired social interaction related to reluctance to be away from attachment figure.
Outcomes:
- The client:
  - Maintains anxiety at a manageable level.
  - Demonstrates adaptive coping strategies for dealing with anxiety, when separation from attachment figure is anticipated.
  - Interacts appropriately with others and spends time away from attachment figure to do so.
Planning/Implementation:
- Nursing care is aimed at:
  - Helping the client maintain anxiety at a manageable level in the face of separation from a significant other.
  - Assisting with the development of more adaptive coping strategies.
  - Developing trust and demonstrating the ability to interact appropriately with others.
Evaluation:
- Requires reassessment of the behaviors for which the family sought treatment.
- Both the client and family members must change their behaviors.

Intellectual Developmental Disorder (IDD)

Characterized by deficits in general mental abilities, reasoning, problem-solving, planning, abstract thinking, judgment, and learning in both academic settings and from experience.
Onset prior to age 18 years.
Diagnostic Features:
- General intellectual functioning
  - Clinical assessment
  - Performance on IQ tests (not diagnostic)
- Adaptive functioning (diagnostic)
  - Ability to adapt to requirements of activities of daily living and the expectations of their age and cultural group.

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Description

This quiz delves into how childhood behavior can indicate emotional problems and explores conditions like Separation Anxiety Disorder. Participants will learn about symptoms, predisposing factors, and treatment approaches for young children experiencing emotional distress. Enhance your understanding of childhood mental health issues through this focused quiz.