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CLINICAL SYNTHESISFull Access

Quick Reference for child and adolescent psychiatry

Published Online:https://doi.org/10.1176/foc.2.4.524

The tables in this section are drawn with permission from American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, Washington, DC, 2000; and Dulcan M, Martini R, Lake MB: Concise Guide to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 3rd ed. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press, 2000.

Table 1. Risk Factors for Repeat Suicide Attempt
Patient history
    Verbalization or threats regarding suicide
    Substance abuse
    Poor impulse control
    A recent loss or other severe stressor
    Previous suicide attempt(s)
    A friend or family member who has committed suicide
    Exposure to recent news stories or movies about suicide
    Poor social supports
    Victim of physical or sexual abuse
Nature of the attempt
    Accidental discovery (versus attempt in view of others or telling others immediately)
    Careful plans to avoid discovery
    Hanging or gunshot
Family
    Wishes to be rid of child or adolescent
    Does not take child’s problems seriously
    Overly angry and punitive
    Depression or suicidality in family member
    Unwilling or unable to provide support and supervision
Mental status examination
    Depression
    Hopelessness
    Regret at being rescued
    Belief that things would be better for self or others if dead
    Wish to rejoin a dead loved one
    Belief that death is temporary and pleasant
    Unwillingness to promise to call before attempting suicide
    Psychosis
Intoxication
Table 1. Risk Factors for Repeat Suicide Attempt
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Table 2. Development Differences in DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Mood Disorders
DisorderAdultsChildren
Major depressionDepressed moodCan be irritable mood
 Change in weight or appetiteCan be failure to make expected weight gains
DysthymiaDepressed moodCan be irritable mood
 2-year duration1-year duration
Cyclothymia2-year duration1-year duration
Table 2. Development Differences in DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Mood Disorders
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Table 3. Common Psychological Characteristics of Children and Adolescents With Conduct Disorder
Attention deficits, low frustration tolerance
Impulsivity, recklessness
Learning disorders, especially in reading
Negative mood
    Sullenness
    Irritability
    Volatile anger
Low self-esteem
Impaired cognitions
    Distortions of size and time awareness
    Lack of or distorted connection between prior events and consequences
    Limited ability to generate, evaluate, and implement alternative problem-solving strategies
Use of less adaptive intrapsychic defense mechanisms
    Minimization
    Avoidance
    Externalization
    Denial
    Identification with the aggressor
Emotional deficits
    Minimization of fear and sadness, exaggeration of anger
    Lack of empathy
    Lack of guilt
Impaired interpersonal relations
    Suspiciousness or paranoia, with cognitive distortions
    Attributional bias: misperception of others’ actions as hostile
    Preference for nonverbal, action-oriented, aggressive solutions to problems
Table 3. Common Psychological Characteristics of Children and Adolescents With Conduct Disorder
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Table 4. DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
A. Either (1) or (2):
 
1.

six (or more) of the following symptoms of inattention have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Inattention

a.a.

often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities

a.b.

often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities

a.c.

often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly

a.d.

often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)

a.e.

often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities

a.f.

often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)

a.g.

often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)

a.h.

is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli

a.i.

is often forgetful in daily activities

2.

six (or more) of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have persisted for at least 6 months to a degree that is maladaptive and inconsistent with developmental level:

Hyperactivity

b.a.

often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat

b.b.

often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected

b.c.

often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)

b.d.

often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly

b.e.

is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”

b.f.

often talks excessively

Impulsivity

b.g.

often blurts out answers before questions have been completed

b.h.

often has difficulty awaiting turn

b.i.

often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)

B. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms that caused impairment were present before age 7 years.
C. Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g., at school [or work] and at home).
D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
E. The symptoms do not occur exclusively during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, or a personality disorder).
Table 4. DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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Table 5. Medical Contribution to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
PrenatalYoung mother
 Poor maternal health
 Maternal use of cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs
Birth complicationsBleeding
 Hypoxia
 Toxemia
 Prolonged labor
PerinatalLow birth weight
 Postmaturity
InfancyMalnutrition
ToxicityLead poisoning
Genetic disordersFragile X syndrome
 Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
 Generalized resistance to thyroid hormone
 Phenylketonuria
Brain injuryTrauma
 Infection
Table 5. Medical Contribution to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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Table 6. DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Conduct Disorder
A.A repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major age-appropriate society norms or rules are violated, as manifested by the presence of three (or more) of the following criteria in the past 12 months, with at least one criterion present in the past 6 months:
 Aggression to people and animals
1.

often bullies, threatens, or intimidates others

2.

often initiates physical fights

3.

has used a weapon that can cause serious physical harm to others (e.g., a bat, brick, broken bottle, knife, gun)

4.

has been physically cruel to people

5.

has been physically cruel to animals

6.

has stolen while confronting a victim (e.g., mugging, purse snatching, extortion, armed robbery)

7.

has forced someone into sexual activity

Destruction of property

8.

has deliberately engaged in fire setting with the intention of causing serious damage

9.

has deliberately destroyed others’ property (other than by fire setting)

Deceitfulness or theft

10.

has broken into someone else’s house, building, or car

11.

often lies to obtain goods or favors or to avoid obligations (i.e., “cons” others)

12.

has stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim (e.g., shoplifting, but without breaking and entering; forgery)

Serious violations of rules

13.

often stays out at night despite parental prohibitions, beginning before age 13 years

14.

has run away from home overnight at least twice while living in parental or parental surrogate home (or once without returning for a lengthy period)

15.

is often truant from school, beginning before age 13 years

B.The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.
C.If the individual is age 18 or older, criteria are not met for antisocial personality disorder.
Table 6. DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Conduct Disorder
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Table 7. Risk Factors Associated With Serious Substance Abuse in Adolescence
Rebelliousness
Aggression
Impulsivity
Low self-esteem
Elementary school underachievement
Failure to value education
Absence of strong religious convictions
Experimentation with drugs before age 15 years
Relationships with peers who have behavior problems and use drugs
Alienation from parents
History of physical or sexual abuse
Family lacking in clear discipline, praise, and positive relationships
Family history of substance abuse
Table 7. Risk Factors Associated With Serious Substance Abuse in Adolescence
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Table 8. Differential Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa
Normal thinness 
Physical disorders causing weight lossHyperthyroidism
 Other endocrine disorders
 Gastrointestinal disorders resulting in vomiting, loss of appetite, and/or malabsorption
 Malignancy
 Chronic infection
Psychiatric disorders causing loss of appetite and weight lossDepression
 Peculiar eating behavior secondary to obsessive-compulsive disorder or to delusions in schizophrenia or psychotic depression
 Avoidance of eating caused by phobia of choking, with or without psychosis
 Vomiting secondary to conversion disorder
Hypothyroidism producing hypothermia and amenorrhea 
Table 8. Differential Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa
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Table 9. Physical Signs and Symptoms and Complications Associated With Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
CardiovascularHypotension (especially postural)
 Bradycardia (rates between 40 and 50 beats per minute)
 Arrhythmias (prolonged QT interval may be a marker for risk of sudden death)
 Mitral valve prolapse
 Cardiac arrest
 Edema and congestive heart failure during refeeding
 Cardiac failure secondary to cardiomyopathy from Ipecac (emetine) poisoning
NeuroendocrineAmenorrhea or irregular menses (low levels of FSH and LH despite low estrogen levels
 Low basal metabolism rate
 Abnormal glucose tolerance test with insulin resistance
 Hypothermia
 Elevated levels of growth hormone and cortisol
 Sleep disturbances
BoneOsteopenia
Fluid disturbanceDehydration
 Electrolyte imbalance
 Abnormal urinalysis
GastrointestinalConstipation
 Diarrhea
HematologicalLeukopenia
 Anemia
 Thrombocytopenia
 Low sedimentation rate
DermatologicalDry skin
 Lanugo (baby-fine body hair)
Oral, esophageal, and gastric damage from vomiting and/or binge eatingLoss of dental enamel
 Enlarged salivary glands
 Gastritis
 Esophagitis
 Increased rates of pancreatitis

FSH=follicle-stimulating hormone; LH=luteinizing hormone

Source: Adapted from Palla B, Litt IF: Medical complications of eating disorders in adolescents. Pediatrics 1988; 81:613–623

Table 9. Physical Signs and Symptoms and Complications Associated With Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
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