Tag Archives: Children

How to Fight for Coverage of Child’s Mental Illness

The second in a two-part series. Among the more than 6 million American children estimated to suffer from a serious mental disorder are the cases that elude clear-and-quick diagnosis. These elusive diagnoses can happen when multiple conditions camouflage or overlap the traits of one another. And the parents of those youths can face years of […]

Digital Devices May Hinder Ability to Read Emotions

In the modern digital world, are we more connected than ever before, or more disconnected? Does this world expose us to information and ideas that we would never otherwise encounter, or does it help us to stay contentedly isolated in our comfort zones? Does social media help us to stay in touch with family and […]

Brain Imaging Sheds New Light on Bipolar Disorder in Children

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that can profoundly affect a person’s life at any age. According to the National Institutes of Health, the disorder affects around 5.7 million American adults, or 2.6 percent of our adult population. Globally, up to 4 percent of adults are affected. The illness is typically identified around age 25, […]

How to Heal Youth After Psychological Trauma?

Evidence-based psychotherapy is the general term for forms of psychotherapeutic mental health treatment that have had their effectiveness verified by well-constructed scientific studies. Not all forms of psychotherapy meet this standard, and many people fail to gain a significant benefit from participation in non-evidence-based approaches. According to the authors of a study review published in […]

Tylenol in Pregnancy Tied to Higher ADHD Risk in Kids

Startling new findings have thrown into question whether decades of pregnant women taking acetaminophen products such as Tylenol for lower back pain and headaches has led to their children being diagnosed with ADHD. Kids whose mothers took acetaminophen while pregnant were more likely to develop attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a long-term study by UCLA researchers has […]

Bullying by Siblings Anything But Harmless

While other forms of bullying are commonly taken seriously and relatively well-researched, bullying between siblings often gets ignored or minimized. However, two recent studies call attention to the potential pitfalls of discounting the effects of sibling bullying. One of these studies indicates that children who bully their brothers or sisters take this activity less seriously […]

Inner-Ear Disorders May Cause Hyperactivity

Inner-ear disorders are physical conditions that alter normal function in the innermost structures of the ear, which play an essential role in the ability to hear or maintain a sense of balance. Current evidence indicates that children diagnosed with behavioral problems develop serious inner-ear problems more often than their peers unaffected by behavioral problems. In […]

Teens Are Faking ADHD Symptoms to Get Adderall

When a medication is effective, we give thanks. Drugs that can alleviate problem symptoms help patients live normal lives and restore a positive and hopeful outlook that brings many other desired outcomes. But when good medications are misused, everyone suffers. Patients are greeted with more skepticism and eventually medications become harder to obtain.  Doctors are […]

A ‘Friend’ Request From Dear Old Dad? Parents Bonding With Kids on Facebook, Study Finds

So it appears that, rather than alienate, social media can help foster healthy relationships, which includes the relationship between your teenager and you. A study conducted by Brigham Young University reveals that teens who reported connecting with their parents via Facebook and other social media outlets were more likely to have a close bond with […]

Signs That Your Child Is a Victim of Cyberbullying

Bullying has always been a problem with kids, but something has changed. In modern times, there is a new component to these acts of aggression: the Internet. Especially with the advent of social media, teens have new avenues for targeting and bullying peers. It does not require much imagination to discern the harm bullying can […]

Depression in Preschool Is Real

Preschool depression is the term mental health professionals use to describe symptoms of major depression that appear in children younger than 6. At one point, there was considerable doubt among these professionals that such a condition truly existed. However, evidence gathered in the last several years strongly supports its reality. According to a study published […]

Childhood Trauma Linked to Brain Changes and Addiction

It has long been known that trauma at a young age can make a person vulnerable to a number of mental illnesses as well as addiction. Recently, however, researchers have made advances into understanding exactly why this is and specifically how trauma is linked to depression and addiction. Traumatic events during childhood actually change the […]

The Impact of Natural Disasters on Children’s Mental Health

Hurricane season is upon us and weather updates crowd television screens across the nation. It seems like reporters tell the country about everything from who decides to stay behind to how the family dog survived. But one subject that gets little mention is how our youngest citizens in these areas respond and cope when disaster […]

Eating Disorders Among Children on the Rise

Ten years ago the problem was practically non-existent. Today, instances of childhood eating disorders are up more than one hundred percent. Children as young as eight and nine years old are being found to struggle with serious disorders which can set them up for a lifetime of emotional struggles and health challenges. To illustrate the […]

Helping Prevent Depression in Children

Many adults look back on their childhood days as care-free times. Compared to their stressful adult life of balancing work, family, finances, and personal issues, childhood is recalled as joyful and easy. But it’s not easy for all children. According to Dr. David Fassler, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont College of […]

“Unhappy Meals”: Too Many Hamburgers and Fries Linked to Depression

Eating large amounts of fast food like hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages and pizza can increase your risk for depression by as much as 51%, according to a new study from Spain. The researchers also found that junk food pastries like doughnuts and cupcakes were linked to mood problem and could also increase the risk for […]

Trauma in Early Childhood Affects Test Scores

During the first two years of life, development is rapid. A child progresses from helpless newborn to a walking, talking child with independent ideas and opinions. While the changes on the outside are the most obvious, there are also significant developments in the brain.

Child Abuse Linked to Alcoholism, Drug Addiction

Children who have experienced abuse and maltreatment show changes in important parts of their brains. These changes are linked to depression, drug addiction, schizophrenia and other mental health problems, according to a new study from Harvard University.