Is it possible to diagnose a child or adolescent with a personality disorder?
Yes, it is possible and appropriate to diagnose a child or an adolescent with a personality disorder (PD). However, psychiatric health professionals should be cautious when diagnosing children or adolescents with PD. This is because some PD symptoms can be confused with changes in behaviors at their age. Doing so could cause stigma toward the pediatric patient. Diagnosing a child or an adolescent with PD is also difficult because some PD symptoms are similar or overlap those of other mental disorders such as PTSD and ADHD. Further, to diagnose a child or an adolescent with PD, the patient must have shown the symptoms for at least a year. Nevertheless, Black confirms that antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) can only be diagnosed in adulthood. NSG5905 Week 2 Discussion Board
What is one developmental theory that relates to childhood or adolescent personality disorders?
Psychosocial Development Theory (PDT) by Erik Erikson closely relates to childhood or adolescent personality disorders. In the theory, human personality goes through eight developmental stages as a person grows from infancy to adulthood. In each personality trait, there exists an opposing or conflicting personality that acts as a challenge the person should overcome to achieve essential virtues and a healthy personality. The eight stages are trust versus mistrust, autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, industry versus inferiority. Identity versus role confusion, intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair are the other stages.
The first four personality developmental stages relate to personality and personality disorders in children and adolescents. Conflicting personalities are psychosocial crises that closely relate to clinical manifestations of personality disorders. For instance, the identity versus role confusion occurring between ages twelve and eighteen years. It correlates with personality disorder symptoms like interpersonal and self-perception problems.
Describe the management of care for a child or adolescent with a personality disorder including assessment, diagnosis, and multi-modal treatment of these disorders.
Effective management and care of personality disorders in children and adolescents starts with proper psychiatric assessment and accurate diagnosis. The assessment involves tools such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Assessment reports by the parents, home caregivers, and/or teachers are also reviewed to contextualize the results and make diagnoses. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (DBT-A) are used to treat personality disorders in children and adolescents. APA style
Integrate appropriate ethical and legal principles specific to the care of clients with this disorder.