Mental Health Assessment of Children and Adolescents

What is important to know about confidentiality in adolescent mental health?

Laws vary by state, and adolescents should know when private information may be disclosed, such as suicidal or homicidal ideation or suspected child abuse.

Why should adolescents be encouraged to talk with parents about behaviors?

To discuss substance use, high-risk sexual practices, and mental health care while respecting confidentiality.

How should assessment questions be adapted for children and adolescents?

Use more specific, fewer open-ended questions and simpler phrases due to concrete thinking and narrower vocabulary.

Why is corroboration important in child and adolescent assessments?

Children’s self-reports may be limited

What role does artistic or play media serve in assessments?

It helps children express feelings and experiences that may be difficult to verbalize.

Why might children have problems with sequencing events?

They have a less developed sense of time and memory than adults.

What is the primary tool for data collection in child/adolescent mental health?

The clinical interview adapted to developmental level.

How is rapport established in child assessments?

Through separate child and parent interviews, establishing trust, and using age-appropriate communication.

Why do preschool children require play in assessments?

They have difficulty putting feelings into words and think concretely

How do school-aged children engage during assessments?

They can use constructs, provide longer explanations, and rapport can be built through gaming.

What developmental considerations are important for adolescents?

They are egocentric, self-conscious, fear shame, need respect, honesty, clear communication about what will be shared with parents, and a sense of control.

What components are included in a nursing assessment of children?

Thorough psychiatric and medical history, physical assessment to rule out medical problems, pharmacologic assessment, genetic vulnerability, neurologic exam.

What is assessed in the psychological domain for children?

Mental status exam, developmental assessment, maturation, intellectual functioning, gross/fine motor skills, cognition, thinking, perception, social interactions, play, psychosocial development, language.

Which children’s rating scales are commonly used?

Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, SNAP-IV for ADHD.

What temperament and behavior patterns are assessed?

Easy, difficult, slow-to-warm-up.

How is self-concept evaluated?

Through activities like the three wishes exercise and drawings.

What is included in the psychological risk assessment?

Straightforward questions about thoughts or actions related to self-harm and screening for substance use or abuse.

What is assessed in the social domain?

Family relationships, school and peer adjustment, LGBTQ considerations, community, religious/spiritual assessment, functional status, evaluation of childhood sexual abuse, stresses, and coping behaviors.