Mental Disorders in Early Childhood

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Psychiatry
• Pediatric Mental Health

Background:

• Approximately 17% of children experience mental disorders before age 6.
• Early childhood (up to 6 years) is a critical period for mental health development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review mental disorders in early childhood.
• To summarize prevalence, common conditions, and effective treatments.

Main Methods:

• Literature review using PubMed and Web of Science.
• Inclusion of authors' clinical and scientific expertise.

Main Results:

• Common issues in toddlers include emotional/motor regulation (7%) and feeding problems (25%).
• Reactive attachment disorder affects ~1% of children, particularly those in high-risk environments.
• Preschoolers may develop anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, or behavioral disorders; parent-focused interventions are effective.
• No evidence supports psychotropic drug efficacy in early childhood.

Conclusions:

• Diagnosticians must cautiously interpret early childhood symptoms, recognizing their context within parent-child relationships.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing childhood mental health conditions.
• Psychotherapy for this age group requires further validation through high-quality efficacy and longitudinal studies.