Child psychiatry is not simply "adult psychiatry in miniature." A child's brain is actively developing, so the boundaries between normal and pathological are finer here, and the clinical presentation changes depending on age. In this chapter, we examine conditions that manifest specifically in the first years of life and during puberty.
The section includes four key topics: autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tic disorders, and behavioral disorders. You will learn how to distinguish ordinary educational neglect or the features of an age-related crisis from a real psychiatric diagnosis.
During practical classes and tests, you will certainly be asked about the diagnostic triad of ASD, the criteria for diagnosing ADHD, and the differential diagnosis of transient tics versus Tourette syndrome. Also, be prepared to answer questions on the tactics of communicating with a patient's parents—in pediatric practice, treatment is impossible without their compliance.