The role of a child psychiatrist in safeguarding the mental health of children and adolescents

Abstract

This paper describes various interventions used to protect the mental health of children and adolescents. Unlike promotional and preventative interventions, a child psychiatrist’s primary focus is on therapeutic interventions and preventing the unfavorable progression of psychiatric disorders. In modern child psychiatry, diagnostic and therapeutic options are highly advanced. The fundamental principle is early detection and the earliest possible initiation of therapy, with the goal of either preventing or mitigating mental disorders in adulthood. The diagnostic process follows a series of steps, with the psychiatric interview playing a crucial role at the outset. The dominant therapeutic approach is psychosocial intervention, complemented by various additional therapies, including psychopharmacotherapy. Treatment outcomes in child and adolescent psychiatry are positive in approximately 70 – 80 % of cases, which brings satisfaction to professionals in the field and fosters optimism. An important area of psychosocial intervention includes children with pediatric diagnoses (e.g., children and families affected by hematologic-oncologic diseases), children with psychosomatic disorders (where physical and psychological factors are equally involved), and children presenting with physical symptoms that have underlying psychological causes (e.g., somatization disorders).