Book Text:Part I General Issues: Parenting the Mentally Ill Adolescent Wendla A. Schwartz MD

Part I
General Issues: Parenting the Mentally Ill Adolescent 

(cont'd from September 4th, 2011)

Wendla A. Schwartz, MD

What is Mental Illness?

Parenting the Mentally Ill Adolescent is a book written specifically for parents and guardians or caretakers of teens with mental illness. To this end it is useful to define what I mean by mental illness for the purposes of this book. Over the years the term "mentally ill" has come to mean different things to different groups in our culture. Additionally, the term "mental disorder" is sometimes used interchangeably with mental illness. Mental disorder is the generic phrase used often in the international clinical literature to describe all disorders of thought and behavior related to human beings. A mental disorder can, theoretically be as severe as psychosis (seeing or hearing things that are not there) or as relatively mild and transient as very sad feelings associated with losing a job. So, what exactly do I mean in this book when I say "mentally ill adolescent"? 

One of the clearest and most concise definitions of mental illness for our purposes, comes from the NAMI website (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), a grassroots organization of families and friends working to advocate for individuals with mental illness. According to NAMI: 

Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder. 

In this book we are referring generally to the NAMI definition of mental illness.  This includes the list of diagnoses given under column 1 of Table 1 below. Because we are dealing with adolescents this book also applies to teenagers with psychiatric illnesses first arising in childhood. These are included in column 2 of Table 1 below.  It is important to note that parents and caregivers who have not yet received a diagnosis for their teen will also find this book helpful. Column 3, Table 1 is a list of specific behaviors which are addressed and explored in this book within the context of mental illness. Parents who are wondering whether to seek professional help for their child may find direction here. 

Table 1. Diagnoses and Behaviors Relevant to this Text

Serious Psychiatric Illnesses for which this book will be helpful Column 1	Psychiatric Illnesses of Childhood for which this book will be helpful Column 2	Common Behaviors concerning parents Column 3
Schizophrenia	Autism Spectrum Disorders	Sexual acting out
Schizoaffective Disorder	Asperger's disorder (DSM IV)	Drug and alcohol use
Schizophreniform Disorder	Disorders related to intellectual functioning	School Failure
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder	Learning Disorders	Hygeine and health issues
Bipolar Disorder	Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder	Excessive arguing and defiance
Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia	Intermittent explosive disorder	Social isolation
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder	Neurodevelopmental disorders resulting in impaired cognitive function	Changes in dress/music/friends
Evolving Personality Disorders	Temper dysregulation disorder (DSMV)	Excessive video/computer use
Conduct Disorder		Suicidal thinking/threats/self-injurious behavior
Addiction and Susbstance Abuse		Violence/aggression/criminal activity

This text will be published in sections over the next several months on this blog in the hopes that it will provide ongoing support and information for families in need.

Wendla A. Schwartz, MD Board Certified Psychiatrist Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Psychopharmacologist