Analyze psychological issues that may arise in children faced with special circumstances

Special Topics in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

“Here we go again; another foster home. My father kicked me out when he saw me wearing Mom’s clothes. He did not understand that deep down, I know that I am a girl. My birth certificate may say male, but it is wrong. I feel so much better being myself… being a girl. Maybe this foster family will understand and accept me for who I am, or I am just going to run away again.”

Joseph/Josephine, age 16

In your practice as a PMHNP, you may see many children and adolescents who are faced with challenges that go beyond the standard DSM-5 diagnoses. Children in foster homes or who have been adopted may have emotional scars from previous abuse or neglect; adolescents experiencing issues with gender dysphoria may be faced with peer and family issues; and children involved in acts of terrorism may face reoccurring fear and mistrust.

This week, you explore psychological issues that may arise in children faced with special circumstances and the assessment and treatment options specific to these special populations. You also take your final exam for the course.

Photo Credit: [William Andrew]/[Photographer’s Choice RF]/Getty Images

Learning Resources

Note:  To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the  Course Materials  section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Sadock, B. J., Sadock, V. A., & Ruiz, P. (2014). Kaplan & Sadock’s synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences/clinical psychiatry (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

· Chapter 31, “Child Psychiatry” (pp. 1279–1323)

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

· “Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders”

· “Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention”

· “Assessment Measures”

· “Cultural Formulation”

Note: You will access this book from the Walden Library databases.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). (2011). Practice parameter for child and adolescent forensic evaluations. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(12), 1299-1312. Retrieved from http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(11)00883-5/pdf

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). (2012c). Practice parameter on gay, lesbian, or bisexual sexual orientation, gender nonconformity, and gender discordance in children and adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 51(9), 957–974. Retrieved from http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(12)00500-X/pdf

Lee, T., Fouras, G., & Brown, R. (2015). Practice parameter for the assessment and management of youth involved with the child welfare system. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(6), 502–517. Retrieved from http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567(15)00148-3/pdf

Human Rights Campaign. (n.d.). Growing up LGBT in America. Retrieved June 8, 2017, from http://assets.hrc.org//files/assets/resources/Growing-Up-LGBT-in-America_Report.pdf?_ga=1.83582870.1279387255.1493224749

Optional Resources

Thapar, A., Pine, D. S., Leckman, J. F., Scott, S., Snowling, M. J., & Taylor, E. A. (2015). Rutter’s child and adolescent psychiatry (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.

· Chapter 19, “Legal Issues in the Care and Treatment of Children With Mental Health Disorders” (pp. 239–249)

· Chapter 49, “Forensic Psychology” (pp. 636–647)

Discussion: Special Topics in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Many children face special issues that impact everyday life, whether it is within themselves, their families, or their environment. The PMHNP must be sensitive to these many issues that children and adolescents are faced with during important developmental years.

In this Discussion, you select a special population and analyze the psychological issues that the population faces. You also address the assessment and treatment needs of the population.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze psychological issues that may arise in children faced with special circumstances

· Evaluate assessment measures used with children faced with special circumstances

· Evaluate treatment options used with children faced with special circumstances

· Analyze cultural influences on treatments (D)

To Prepare for the Discussion:

· Review the Learning Resources.

· Select one of the following topics for the Discussion:

· Adoption

· Foster care

Post:

· Write your selected disorder in the subject line of your Discussion post.

· Explain the psychological issues that may result from your topic.

· Describe the most effective assessment measure that could be used, and explain why you selected this.

· Explain the treatment options available for children and adolescents involved with your selected disorder.

· Explain how culture may influence treatme