Special Topics in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

         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. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (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.  

  To Prepare for the Discussion:

· Review the Learning Resources.

· Select one of the following topics for the Discussion:

o Adoption

o Foster care

o Gender dysphoria

o Forensic issues

o Impact of terrorism on children

                                                             Assignment 

· 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 treatment.

                                                       Learning Resources

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”

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)