Paediatric psychiatrist
Who is a paediatric psychiatrist?
A paediatric psychiatrist is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing, treating, and preventing emotional and behavioural disorders in children.
Paediatric psychiatrists conduct detailed examinations and diagnostic interviews with the child and family members to understand the symptoms, manifestations, and emotional difficulties that may affect the child's quality of life and development. They use their knowledge of child development, psycho-emotional health, and mental illness to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an individualised treatment plan.
These specialists work with the child and family to help the child achieve the best outcomes and developmental goals. To achieve the best results, child psychiatrists use a variety of treatment methods based on medical recommendations. These include various methods of psychotherapy, psychoeducation, social support, dietary and lifestyle changes, and, if necessary, medication to help children gain emotional stability, successfully integrate into society, give up harmful habits, and function harmoniously in society.
What symptoms warrant a visit to a paediatric psychiatrist?
Paediatric psychiatrists are very important for a child's health care — they help identify, assess, and treat various mental and emotional disorders that can affect a child's quality of life and development.
The specifics of child development vary at each age, so each period of life has different signs that indicate the need to see a psychiatrist. Some of these symptoms may include:
- Behavioural problems;
- Speech development disorders;
- Learning difficulties;
- The child is overly anxious, insecure, or tearful;
- Inattention or apparent memory impairment;
- The child is overly active;
- Frequent mood swings;
- Gloomy statements about the meaning of life or explicit threats of suicide;
- Sleep and appetite disturbances;
- Withdrawal and unwillingness to interact;
- Uncharacteristic changes in behaviour and personality traits;
- Urinary and faecal incontinence;
- Various unpleasant sensations in the body that have no physiological basis;
- Severe emotional and/or physical trauma, illness.
If any of the above symptoms are detected, it is recommended to seek help from a paediatric psychiatrist. Timely diagnosis of psycho-emotional disorders can help to effectively overcome the difficulties associated with them.
What conditions does a child psychiatrist treat?
A child's psycho-emotional sphere is a unique world that is constantly developing and observing the world around it. However, it can sometimes encounter difficulties when confronted with external or hereditary factors. In such cases, a paediatric psychiatrist can help identify and resolve these issues by providing support and assistance to the child and family.
A paediatric psychiatrist can help if your child has:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, impulsiveness;
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive or restricted patterns of behaviour;
- Speech delay: Delayed or limited language skills that affect a child's ability to speak, understand, or express their thoughts;
- Learning difficulties: Difficulties in learning, such as reading, arithmetic, or writing;
- Anxiety disorders: Excessive worry, fear, and nervousness, panic attacks;
- Depressive and other mood disorders: Sadness, low mood, loss of interest, suicidal thoughts, periodic mood swings from extreme euphoria to deep depression;
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Unwanted thoughts and cyclically repetitive actions;
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Unpleasant memories of a traumatic event that interfere with daily life;
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating, etc.): Difficulties with food, weight, and body image;
- Mental retardation: Conditions characterised by lower intellectual potential and limited abilities that are not appropriate for the given stage of development. Children with limited intellectual abilities may experience difficulties in learning, adapting, and performing everyday tasks.
- Chronic tics or twitching: Repetitive, involuntary tics that may affect children's daily activities and interactions with others.
- Gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria: A mismatch between a person's psychological (gender identity) and genetic/biological sex.
Paediatric psychiatrists work closely with other specialists in child health, including paediatricians, child psychiatrists, paediatric neurologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, oncologists, psychologists, and social workers, to provide comprehensive, individualised care for each child.
It is important to note that child psychiatrists work not only with the child but also with their parents to help them understand the causes of the problem and overcome it. Parents receive important instructions and explanations from the specialist about why the child is facing this problem.
FORTEMED Pediatric Psychiatrist
Paediatric psychiatrists build partnerships with the child and family, working with each family member to help the child achieve the best possible outcomes. Therefore, it is important to consult a specialist who can thoroughly analyse the situation, understand the intricacies of family dynamics, and find common ground with the child and their parents.
The FORTEMED paediatric psychiatrist provides consultations on various acute and chronic emotional and behavioural disorders for children aged 1.5 years and older and adolescents. She has experience working with children and adolescents in inpatient, day hospital, and outpatient settings, using individual therapy, observation, and diagnostic assessment.
Depending on the specific situation and the patient's condition, additional tests, consultations with other specialists, or examinations may also be required.
About consultations with a paediatric psychiatrist
Parents often have questions about what happens during a visit to a paediatric psychiatrist, what to expect, and how to prepare.
The consultation includes a conversation with the parents, an examination of the child, the prescription of additional tests, and the evaluation of test results. Additional tests, specialist consultations or examinations may be prescribed.
Please note that the first consultation usually lasts about 1 hour. To give us enough time to understand your situation and provide appropriate support, please prepare accordingly. We recommend that you set aside enough time on that day so that you can fully concentrate and ask any questions or express any concerns you may have.
If possible, please:
- Find time before the consultation to prepare all previous examinations and/or medical records;
- If your child is having problems at school/nursery, it would be advisable to obtain a statement from the educational institution in which the teacher, tutor or school psychologist describes the situation;
- If your child has previously consulted a paediatric neurologist, psychologist or speech therapist, be sure to bring a written report from the specific specialist;
- If there is no clear information about the child's physical health, it is recommended to include statements from paediatricians and specialists, along with examination results.
Important to know!
All consultations with a child psychiatrist are strictly confidential. Seeking help from a child psychiatrist will not affect your child's future in any way, as all data relating to the visit is protected in accordance with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation and other legal acts. Therefore, when you visit a child psychiatrist, you can be sure that your child's privacy and confidentiality will be fully respected.
How to make an appointment with a FORTEMED child psychiatrist?
To make an appointment with our child psychiatrist, parents need to:
- Call FORTEMED patient managers at 23304440;
- Make an appointment online by clicking the red button below.
We strive to offer the best medical care for your child. Choose us and make your child our priority!