January 2023

Role of Psychiatrists in Children’s Mental Health

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The Kids Mental Health Foundation Behavioral Health Experts

Article Summary

 

What are children’s psychiatrists and what do they do? How often will your child need to see a psychiatrist?

  • Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health conditions
  • They have training in the biological, psychological and social factors that affect mental health
  • Mental health conditions may in part be caused by problems with the function of certain brain circuits
  • Psychiatrists study how medications may help those circuits or parts of the brain function more normally and are experts in prescribing medications for mental health conditions
  • Children on medication will need to see their psychiatrist regularly

What is a psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions. At your first visit, they will ask questions or perform tests to determine the potential cause of your child’s symptoms, including urgent or ongoing medical or psychiatric illnesses. Psychiatrists may ask a lot about your child’s medical and psychiatric history and may do a physical exam.

What do psychiatrists do?

Child and Adolescent psychiatrists are trained in the biological, psychological and social factors that affect mental health. They also have an understanding of human development, family dynamics, and variations in emotional aspects of health. This comprehensive training helps them lead treatment teams to care for youth with serious mental health conditions.

As leaders alongside other mental health professionals, psychiatrists can select evidence-based treatment needed to promote mental and physical health for a child. The most important part of this process is having an accurate diagnostic picture to then choose the best treatment, which may or may not include medication.

In addition, psychiatrists learn different therapy techniques within their medical training, but may also choose to refer to therapists, counselors, or psychologists. A psychiatrist can refer patients to a therapist if they need one.

Children in therapy may also see a psychiatrist, but that depends on many factors. Only some patients need medication to manage their mental health conditions; sometimes, therapy is all that patients need.

How often will your child need to see a psychiatrist?

If your child is on medication, you will need to visit the psychiatrist on an ongoing basis, but the appointments are spaced out differently depending on the reason they are scheduled.

A patient may visit their psychiatrist every 4 to 12 weeks to have their medication monitored. Monitoring involves things like checking vital signs, bloodwork, assessing and managing side effects, and asking about symptoms.

Many children don’t need to see a psychiatrist or therapist indefinitely. Your psychiatrist should let you know when you can stop scheduling appointments for your child.

Psychiatrists are just one of many kinds of mental health professionals that you may have heard of. We have an overview of the most common types and more about different kinds of therapy.