"Kids with DMDD are already in need of treatment, they're just not getting the best treatment that they could be. DMDD shares qualities with ADHD and ODD but also reflects substantial emotional concerns as severe as any bipolar disorder. In this book Dr. Finnerty confronts the popularized notion of "the bipolar child" and offers resources and "less toxic" advice for parents and professionals."--Provided by publisher.

A practical guide to understanding and treating children and adolescents prone to extreme levels of angry outbursts, Disruptive Mood: Irritability in Children and Adolescents is based on the very latest research and theory. Providing both a clinical and scientific perspective on irritability in children, this book is a timely look at recent developments in the field. Abnormal states of anger are a common reason for referral to child health services, and cause concern in clinics, schools, and families. Misdiagnosis and treatment can stem from a lack of understanding of the mechanisms involved in high levels of anger in children, and Disruptive Mood: Irritability in Children and Adolescents provides clear guidance on the development of abnormal states of anger, their consequences for later development, and how to assess and make differential diagnoses between them. A useful resource for clinical practice, this book is concise and accessible, and offers tools for evaluating treatments. Disruptive Mood: Irritability in Children and Adolescents is designed for practitioners involved in child and adolescent mental health and education and researchers who need an introduction to this complex field.

Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide to DSM-5® is a consumer guide for anyone who has been touched by mental illness. Most of us know someone who suffers from a mental illness. This book helps those who may be struggling with mental health problems, as well as those who want to help others achieve mental health and well-being. Based on the latest, fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -- known as DSM-5® -- Understanding Mental Disorders provides valuable insight on what to expect from an illness and its treatment -- and will help readers recognize symptoms, know when to seek help, and get the right care. Featured disorders include depression, schizophrenia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, among others. The common language for diagnosing mental illness used in DSM-5® for mental health professionals has been adapted into clear, concise descriptions of disorders for nonexperts. In addition to specific symptoms for each disorder, readers will find: Risk factors and warning signs Related disorders Ways to cope Tips to promote mental health Personal stories Key points about the disorders and treatment options A special chapter dedicated to treatment essentials and ways to get help Helpful resources that include a glossary, list of medications and support groups

Get a quick, expert overview of complex childhood psychiatric disorders from Drs. David I. Driver and Shari Thomas of Healthy Foundations Group. This practical resource presents a summary of today's current knowledge and best approaches to topics from gender dysphoria to childhood onset schizophrenia and other complex psychiatric disorders. - Comprehensive guide for any professional working with children. - Consolidates today's evidence-based information on complex childhood psychiatric disorders into one convenient resource. - Provides must-know information on evaluation and management. - Covers a range of psychiatric disorders of children including drug-induced mania and psychosis, concussions, ADHD, technology addiction, sleep disorders, and eating disorders.

This dissertation presents a study that was designed to tease out differences in the clinical presentations of children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). These two diagnoses have been criticized for their overlap in criteria and identical prevalence rates. DMDD was introduced into the DSM-5 in order to address increasing diagnoses of pediatric bipolar disorder and is characterized by chronic irritability and severe temper outbursts nearly every day. While the introduction of the new diagnosis seemed to have an impact on the heightened bipolar diagnoses, another issue emerged regarding the overlap with ODD. Longitudinal outcomes demonstrate that children with chronic irritability are likely to develop depression in later adolescence and adulthood, and irritability may occur in children who are depressed. It was hypothesized that children with DMDD will report higher ratings of chronic irritability and heightened depressive symptoms than children with ODD, based on child and parent-report ratings of depression and irritability from 32 children, 18 with DMDD and 18 with ODD. Exploratory analysis on aggression characteristics and hidden patterns in responding were examined. This study yields clinical implications upon replication with larger samples in terms of recommendations for accurate assessment and diagnosis as well as better identifying treatment for children with DMDD.

Children living in poverty are more likely to have mental health problems, and their conditions are more likely to be severe. Of the approximately 1.3 million children who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits in 2013, about 50% were disabled primarily due to a mental disorder. An increase in the number of children who are recipients of SSI benefits due to mental disorders has been observed through several decades of the program beginning in 1985 and continuing through 2010. Nevertheless, less than 1% of children in the United States are recipients of SSI disability benefits for a mental disorder. At the request of the Social Security Administration, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children compares national trends in the number of children with mental disorders with the trends in the number of children receiving benefits from the SSI program, and describes the possible factors that may contribute to any differences between the two groups. This report provides an overview of the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and the levels of impairment in the U.S. population under age 18. The report focuses on 6 mental disorders, chosen due to their prevalence and the severity of disability attributed to those disorders within the SSI disability program: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and mood disorders. While this report is not a comprehensive discussion of these disorders, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children provides the best currently available information regarding demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and expectations for the disorder time course - both the natural course and under treatment.