Question

In two complete paragraphs (5-8 sentences each), explain why doctors may not be comfortable labeling children as having a personality disorder? What are the negative implications of diagnosing children with personality disorders? What are the positive effects of early diagnosis?

Address the following topics within your response:

1. Medication-could this be a benefit or a drawback to the child. What about potential side effects? (5 points)
2. Labeling-could a young child just be going through a phase, how could a label such as schizophrenia negatively impact a child? (5 Points)
3. Educational/Career opportunities-Could early diagnosis gives an opportunity for more educational opportunities, and a better chance at having a fulfilling future
4. Family benefits-understanding that a child has a personality disorder and is not trying to be challenging may also impact the family dynamic as well. How could early diagnosis benefit the family or harm the family?
5. Society benefits-could early diagnosis prevent future crime when the child is an adult

Answer 1

explain why doctors may not be comfortable labeling children as having a personality disorder? What are the negative implications of diagnosing children with personality disorders? What are the positive effects of early diagnosis?

There are a number of reasons why children would not be labelled as mentally ill amongst by the doctors. One of the major reasons of the same is the stigma that surrounds mental illness. If the same is labelled to a child, the stigma surrounds the entire life of the child. There is a huge stigma associated with mental illnesses, which make people think of being overwhelmed or stressed. It becomes difficult to communicate with the people around and with the peers, along with being difficult to explain the peers. They tend to have disturbed sleep along with negative self image. They tend to enter into depression.

The negative impact about mental illness has been since a long time in the society. People think of individuals with mental illnesses as being dangerous and potentially harmful. They tend to be stressed and worried about any interaction with people labeled as mentally ill. The children get isolated and are not allowed to mingle with other children. This thought has developed as a result of the frequent news pieces that show the people with schizophrenia or psychopaths committing gruesome crimes. This forms a general thinking.