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Child & Adolescent Psychiatry guides
21 plain-English, evidence-linked guides in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, with clinical review status shown on each page.
ADHD assessment in children (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnostic assessment in children and young people)A thorough specialist assessment to find out whether a child's difficulties with attention, activity or impulsivity are due to ADHD, and what would help.ADHD medication management for children (Pharmacological management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and young people)Starting, adjusting and monitoring medicines for ADHD in children and young people, as one carefully managed part of a wider support plan.Anger and emotional regulation (Support for anger and emotional regulation difficulties)Help for a child or young person who struggles to manage strong feelings such as anger, focused on understanding what is behind the outbursts and building skills to cope.Anxiety in children and teenagers (Recognition and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and young people)Help for children and teenagers whose worry or fear is strong enough to get in the way of everyday life, using talking therapy first and, for some, carefully supervised medication.Bereavement and loss support (Support for children and young people after bereavement or loss)Support for a child or young person who is grieving after a death or other major loss, recognising that grief is a normal response and offering age-appropriate help.Child and adolescent mental health assessment (Child and adolescent psychiatric assessment)A careful assessment by a specialist of a child or young person's emotional, behavioural and mental health, working with them and their family.Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for young people (Cognitive behavioural therapy for children and adolescents)A practical, evidence-based talking therapy that helps a child or young person understand the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, and learn skills to manage problems like anxiety and low mood.Combined ADHD and autism assessment (Combined neurodevelopmental assessment for ADHD and autism in children and young people)A thorough, multi-informant assessment that looks at both ADHD and autism together to understand how a child thinks, learns and relates, and what support would help.Depression in children and teenagers (Identification and management of depression in children and young people)Help for children and teenagers whose low mood is lasting and getting in the way of daily life, using talking therapy first and, for some, carefully monitored medication.Exam stress and pressure (Recognising and managing exam-related stress and anxiety in young people)Help for young people whose worry about exams and pressure to do well is affecting their sleep, mood, eating or ability to cope, including when stress tips into something more serious.Family therapy referral (Referral for family and systemic psychotherapy)A talking therapy where family members meet together with a trained therapist to understand difficulties, improve communication and support each other, often used to help a child or young person.Learning difficulties assessment (Assessment for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia))A careful assessment to understand how a child learns, where they are finding things hard, and what support would help, sometimes leading to a name like dyslexia, dyscalculia or dyspraxia.Low mood and self-esteem support (Support for low mood and low self-esteem in children and young people)Practical, gentle support for children and teenagers who are feeling down or low in confidence, to build wellbeing and self-worth and to spot when more help is needed.Medication review for young people (Specialist review of psychiatric medication in children and adolescents)A specialist appointment to check whether a young person's mental health medication is still helping, is at the right dose, is safe, and is being monitored properly, and to plan any changes carefully.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in young people (Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and young people)Help for children and teenagers troubled by unwanted thoughts and repeated behaviours, using a specific kind of talking therapy first and, for some, carefully supervised medication.Parenting support and advice (Evidence-based parenting support and parent training programmes)Practical, evidence-based help for parents and carers to understand and manage a child's behaviour and emotions, and to strengthen family relationships.Post-traumatic stress in children (Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and young people)Assessment and treatment for a child or young person who is struggling after a frightening or traumatic event, using talking therapies designed for trauma, with safeguarding as a priority.School refusal and anxiety (Support for emotionally based school avoidance and anxiety)Help for a child or young person who finds it very hard or impossible to attend school because of anxiety or distress, focused on understanding the cause and supporting a gradual, kind return.Self-harm assessment (Psychosocial assessment after self-harm in children and young people)A careful, compassionate conversation with a mental health professional to understand why a young person has hurt themselves, what they need, and how to keep them safe.Sensory processing assessment (Assessment of sensory processing differences)An assessment of how a child takes in and responds to everyday senses — like sound, touch, movement and light — to understand their sensory differences and what practical support may help.Tics and Tourette's assessment (Clinical assessment of tic disorders and Tourette syndrome)An assessment for a child or young person with tics, to understand what is happening, whether it fits a tic disorder or Tourette syndrome, and what support may help.
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