Mental Disorders of the Child and Adolescent

In spite of the variations in the rates of prevalence, and depending on the diagnostic criteria used, at least 20% of children and adolescents have been estimated to display some kind of mental disorder and at least half of them undergo a major reduction in their family, social and school function. The studies carried out until now have shown that some psychiatric disorders tend to be more severe when they start in childhood and adolescence, causing greater effects on the everyday life and functioning of the children and teenagers suffering from these.

The Programme for research into Infant Psychiatry and Psychology has helped to increase knowledge on how brain development affects the child’s conduct and how biological factors interact with others from the environment in the development of different disorders. This knowledge has gradually enabled improving pharmacological and psychological treatments and the combination of both. There is still a very long way to go to improve both prevention and treatment and prognosis.

Lines of research

• Risk factors, genetics, clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, immunology, treatment and evolution of psychotic and emotional disorders in children and adolescents.
• Risk factors, genetics, clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, treatment and evolution of eating disorders.
• Genetic, neuroimaging and immunological characteristics in children and adolescents with obsessive –compulsive disorders and tic disorders in children and adolescents.
• Genetic and neuroimaging characteristics, treatment and evolution of autistic spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopment disorders.
• Safety and effectiveness of psychotropic drugs and other treatments in children and adolescents.

Groups

Coordinator: Carmen Moreno. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Madrid