Emotional Disturbance in Children and Teens

It is generally accepted that emotional problems in adults originate in childhood.  Yet such childhood problems may go undiagnosed for years.   Early signs of misbehavior, social anxiety disorders, and mood disturbances, may be ignored and pediatricians, because of the child’s age, may assume a “wait and see” attitude.  it may not be until the child enters school that emotional disturbance is recognized, assessment performed, and treatment provided.  Even then school administrators may decide that schools are not mental health treatment centers or psychiatric hospitals and therefore not mandated to do more than provide an appropriate education.   Fortunately educators are increasingly becoming and motivated to provide appropriate counseling and support services in schools.

The term  “emotional disturbance” is not listed as an official diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association.  In addition to its popular usage, it is more an educational diagnosis than a clinical entity.  Educators and school psychologists adhere to the definition imposed by the nation’s special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).