AACAP Resource Centers

AACAP Resource Centers empower consumers through patient education. Each AACAP Resource Center contains consumer-friendly definitions, answers to frequently asked questions, clinical resources, expert videos, and abstracts from the JAACAP, Scientific Proceedings and Facts for Families relevant to each disorder.


Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety in children is expected and normal at specific times in development. However, parents should not discount a child's fears. Because anxious children may also be quiet, compliant and eager to please, their difficulties may be missed.
  

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition which includes difficulties with attention, increased activity, and difficulties with impulsivity. Estimates show that between 3 and 7 percent of school-aged children and about 4 percent of adults have ADHD.
  

Autism

• Autism spectrum disorders affect as many as 1 in 150 American children. Types of autism include autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and Asperger's syndrome. The cause of autism is not known.
  

Bipolar Disorder

• Although bipolar disorder more commonly develops in older teenagers and young adults, it can appear in children as young as 6. evaluation will find that some of these children are suffering from a mental disorder. Yet, only a very few of those will have bipolar disorder.
  

Bullying

• Bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents. Surveys indicate that as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their school years, and at least 10% are bullied on a regular basis.
  

Child Abuse

• Child abuse and violence affect millions of children each year. Child abuse includes physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect. Interpersonal violence is violence between people and includes community violence, partner violence (also called "domestic violence"), and bullying.
  

Conduct Disorder

• Conduct disorder is a serious behavioral and emotional disorder that can occur in children and teens. A child with this disorder may display a pattern of disruptive and violent behavior and have problems following rules.
  

Depression

• Childhood depression is different from the normal "blues" and everyday emotions that occur as a child develops. Just because a child seems sad, this does not necessarily mean he or she has significant depression. If the sadness becomes persistent, or if disruptive behavior that interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life develops, it may indicate that he or she has a depressive illness.
  

Disaster

• A child who has been exposed to a disaster may have been an eye-witness to a disaster. He or she might have been hurt or had a family member who was hurt or killed. Children are also exposed to disasters through TV, media, word-of-mouth, or a mixture of these.
  

Military Families

• Global conflict and unrest have led to the deployment of large numbers of military personnel (active duty, Reserves, National Guard). As a result of duty assignments, members of the military are often separated from their families for lengthy periods of time. A family that loses the active presence of a parent through separation faces significant challenges and stress.
  

Moving Into Adulthood

• Young people moving from adolescence into young adulthood are defined as transitional age youth. New tasks often include: moving away from family, becoming independent, developing one's identity, and learning to handle more complex relationships. For this age group, handling these tasks while adjusting to the start of college and/or moving into the working world can be challenging.
  

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• It's not unusual for children, especially those in their "terrible twos" and early teens, to defy authority every now and then. When this behavior lasts longer than six months and is excessive compared to what is usual for the child's age, it may mean that the child has a type of behavior disorder called oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
  

Substance Use

• Use and abuse of drugs and alcohol by teens is a common occurrence and can have serious consequences. Substance abuse can have lasting effects on adolescents and contributes to personal distress, poor school performance, short and long term health problems, relationship difficulties and involvement in antisocial activities.
  

Reposted with permission from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.