Children’s Mental Disorders
Mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the way children typically learn, behave, or handle their emotions, which cause distress and problems getting through the day.
Healthcare professionals use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual1, to help diagnose mental health disorders in children.
Click on these links to learn more about selected disorders, including symptoms, treatment, and what can be done to prevent them:
![young-boy-talking-with-mom-500px.jpg A young boy talking with his mother.](/https/www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/images/young-boy-talking-with-mom-500px.jpg?_=63986)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Conduct Disorder (CD)
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Tourette Syndrome
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Other conditions and concerns that affect children’s learning, behavior, and emotions include learning and developmental disabilities, autism, and risk factors like substance use and self-harm. Read more about related conditions.
More Information
Reference
- American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2022