Psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence are organized

Psychological disorders of childhood and adolescence are organized into various categories. One of these categories is emotional disorders. This category includes mood-related, depressive, and anxiety-related disorders.

Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research emotional disorders.

Click here to download and review four cases related to emotional disorders.

Then, complete the following:

• Analyze the cases described in the provided document carefully, with a focus on the symptoms demonstrated by each child or adolescent.
• Select two cases from the list in the document.
• Identify which emotional disorder is the most likely diagnosis for each case you have selected. The list of possible disorders is below:

• • Major depressive disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Separation anxiety disorder
  • Panic disorder

• Do the following to explain your chosen diagnoses:
  • Describe each chosen diagnosis by listing the symptoms and criteria required for that diagnosis and possible causes of that diagnosis.
  • Evaluate how the selected cases illustrate those criteria and why that individual has developed that disorder.

Write your initial response in 350–500 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources, including in-text citations and full references. Incorporate information from at least two academic sources to support your statements or ideas. Academic sources could include your textbook, required readings for this module, academic journal articles found in the AU online library, and the American Psychiatric Association Web site at the following:

• American Psychiatric Association. (2014). Mental health. Retrieved from: http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health

By the due date assigned, post your response to the Discussion Area. Through the end of the module, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Provide a statement of clarification, a point of view with rationale, challenge a point of discussion, or draw a relationship between one or more points of the discussion. Consider commenting on the following:

• Explain whether you agree with the peers’ analysis of the cases and recommendations for treatment. Provide reasons in support of your comments.
• Share additional information learned about the selected diagnosis while conducting the research.
• Provide interesting resources, Web sites, or references for academic research articles you found during your research. Summarize the researched information for your peers.

Emotional Disorders: Case Studies

Case A Charlie is a four-year-old Caucasian boy. His mother had hoped to enroll him in preschool this year, but when she attempted to leave him at the school for the morning classes, he panicked and threw tantrums. He clung to her, screaming until she was able to comfort him by taking him out of the school building with her. Until this time, Charlie has spent brief periods of time under others’ care while his mother ran errands or visited with friends. He tended to become upset as she left the home on these occasions, as well. He does not usually throw tantrums; the tantrums seem to occur only when he anticipates being left by his mother at school.

Case B Nyah is an eleven-year-old African-American girl beginning middle school. In August, just before school began, she started having difficulties sleeping at night. She reported to her parents that she was worrying about school—she was worrying about being assigned more homework and anticipating difficulties with making friends. She had also been biting her fingernails. Her parents describe Nyah as intelligent, hardworking, conscientious, and prone to worry. Apparently, she has always had more worries than other children. When her parents argue, she worries they will divorce. When her friends do not answer her calls, she worries that they are rejecting her. Throughout elementary school, she often feared that she would fail her spelling tests or math exams, despite regularly receiving strong grades.

Case C Sindhu is a sixteen-year-old Indian-American girl. Her parents and friends describe her as quite serious most of the time and often sad. She is extremely talented in art; she paints and draws so well that she has been recommended to participate in the countywide gifted-and-talented art class every year since elementary school. She seems to express deep, intense emotions in her artwork. Her mother became quite concerned recently when she heard Sindhu tell a friend that “life is too hard,” and that she “can’t imagine how she will make it in college.” Her best friend admits that lately, Sindhu seems more sad, more tearful, and preoccupied with dark subjects of conversation, such as tragedy, war, and death. When Sindhu’s grades began to decline and she seemed increasingly sad, unmotivated, and lethargic, her parents sought help for her.

Case D Asia is an eight-year-old Korean-American girl who has been having difficulty falling asleep. Once she falls asleep, she often wakes screaming from nightmares. At times, Asia seems quite distracted. When she is distracted, she seems fearful. Her mother reports that Asia describes fearful daydreams and memories related to a recent car accident the family experienced. The accident had been serious; a passenger in the other car was killed. Although Asia did not witness the death, she is haunted by the impact and events after the accident. The themes in her play are related to fear, accidents, sirens, and hospitals. Her parents report that Asia has only had the impaired sleep, fearfulness, and distraction since the accident; she did not have these symptoms prior to the accident.