Mental Disorders in Children
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that specialises in mental health. Mental disorders in child and adolescents are quite common, occurring in up to one quarter of this age group. They often go unrecognised and can be assumed to represent a badly behaved child or just a difficult teenager.
The most common disorders of child and adolescents are anxiety disorders, depression, and attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Although less common, developmental disorders and psychotic disorders in child and adolescence can have a lifelong impact on the young person and his/her family. We do not assess those with A.S.D. , Intellectual Disability , aggression or self harm in the private rooms as best safe practice would be these children engage with a multi-disciplinary team.
The aim is to help you find ways to deal and cope with your difficulties so as to achieve a more contented, fulfilled and happy life for each young person and their family.
Dr. Nina Marie Devlin
Dr. Nina Marie Devlin is a practising child and adolescent psychiatrist with experience as a medical doctor and background training as fully trained family doctor, qualifying in medicine in Ireland in 1994.
She incorporates an integrative and holistic approach to her work practice, addressing various aspects of health including medical fitness, healthy lifestyle, diet, mindfulness and exercise along with mental health.
Dr. Devlin works with both parents and young person (under 18 years of age) individually and/or together with their parents, to help them recover and overcome whatever problems they face, to improve their quality of life and achieve their full potential.
Common Treatment Areas
Whatever your problem may be, we will try to help or sign post. Some of the more common areas that Dr. Nina Marie works with are:
- Anxiety, panic, and OCD engaged in psychological therapy which may need enhancement from pharmacological therapy.
- Stress related illness, including exam stress or bullying.
- Depression.
- ADHD when they have had O.T. and full cognitive assessment (If recommended they have also received occupational therapy and / psychological / behavioural therapy).
- Grief reactions and post traumatic stress disorder.
- Psychosis and related disorders.
- Emerging eating disorders.
Dr. Devlin does not feel that she can safely assess / treat those with suicidal tendencies/ ideation/self harm and does not work with patients with an intellectual disability without the support of a multi-disciplinary team.
The name ‘Anam’ refers to a child as a “gift” or “blessing” in certain Eastern cultures. In early Celtic tradition ‘Anam’ symbolises the “spirit” or “soul”. ‘Anam Cara’ was originally someone to whom you could share your mind and heart, a person who acted as a companion or guide. John O Donohue mentions in his book of the same name that finding ‘Anam Cara’ translates as “feeling understood and belonging, with no limitations on time or space.”Mahatma Gandhi