NR 326 RUA: Scholarly Article Review

NR 326 RUA: Scholarly Article Review

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-326: Mental Health Nursing

Prof. Name:

Date

RUA: Scholarly Article Review

Overview of Pediatric Psychiatric Disorders

Mental health conditions among children have become increasingly intricate in recent years. It is estimated that nearly 15 million children are affected by some form of mental illness (Stewart et al., 2020). Several factors contribute to this alarming figure, including genetic predisposition, adverse childhood experiences, peer bullying, and socio-environmental stressors. Diagnosing psychiatric disorders in children is particularly challenging due to the ongoing development of their emotional, cognitive, and physical faculties. This variability often leads to misinterpretations of symptoms by caregivers, especially in cases of anxiety—the most frequently reported mental health disorder in children. Often, parents misread the manifestations of anxiety as behavioral issues, which may result in heightened parental frustration and neglect of the underlying mental health condition. As children mature and gain greater social awareness, they become more conscious of their emotional and behavioral differences, which can further exacerbate internal stress and emotional dysregulation.

Article Summary

Early Diagnosis and Assessment Tools

The article by Stewart et al. (2020) underscores the significance of early detection and intervention in pediatric mental health. Data reveal that nearly 30–50% of children with intellectual disabilities also suffer from co-occurring mental disorders. Without timely intervention, these children are at risk of facing long-term negative outcomes in their adult lives. Despite this, less than 25% of children in Canada with mental health needs receive appropriate care, often due to long waiting periods that can span from six months to a year.

To address the limitations of traditional assessments, the interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health (ChYMH) instruments were developed. These tools are designed to evaluate children from birth through 18 years within a comprehensive, holistic framework. The interRAI system allows healthcare providers to analyze not only a child’s symptoms but also contextual factors such as environmental stressors and social influences.

The article also discusses a comparative analysis conducted between the interRAI anxiety scale and other traditional tools like the Child Behavior Checklist–Internalizing (CBCL-I). The interRAI anxiety scale comprises six diagnostic criteria aimed at capturing symptoms such as excessive worry, irrational fears, obsessive or intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, panic attacks, and recurring nightmares.

Key Features of the interRAI Anxiety Assessment

This integrative approach ensures that healthcare providers can deliver targeted treatment plans, facilitate service prioritization, and monitor patient outcomes more effectively over time.

Article Critique

Stewart et al. (2020) present a well-structured exploration of the growing crisis in child mental health care. The article is notable for its inclusion of national-level data on the prevalence of untreated psychiatric disorders among Canadian youth and its detailed explanation of the interRAI assessment tool. One limitation of the article, however, lies in its narrow geographical scope; the findings are largely based on Canadian data, which may limit generalizability to other populations.

To provide context, U.S. statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020) indicate that among children aged 2–17, approximately 6.1 million have been diagnosed with ADHD, 4.5 million with behavioral issues, 4.4 million with anxiety, and 1.9 million with depression. This demonstrates that mental health concerns in children are not confined to Canada and suggests the potential utility of interRAI tools in broader healthcare contexts. Future research should explore the effectiveness of these instruments in diverse populations, particularly within the United States, to ensure cultural competence and systemic applicability.

Conclusion

Childhood mental health requires greater attention and proactive management, as many psychiatric conditions originate in early developmental stages. Early diagnosis and intervention can mitigate the risk of chronic emotional and behavioral issues in adulthood. Tools such as the interRAI ChYMH instruments offer a systematic, developmentally informed, and context-sensitive approach to mental health assessment. By evaluating a wide range of anxiety-related symptoms and considering the child’s broader environment, interRAI supports healthcare professionals and mental health providers in crafting individualized, evidence-based treatment plans. Expansion of these tools beyond Canadian borders could help bridge global gaps in pediatric mental health care.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Children’s mental health. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html

NR 326 RUA: Scholarly Article Review

Stewart, S. L., et al. (2020). A psychometric evaluation of the interRAI child and youth mental health instruments (ChYMH) anxiety scale in children with and without developmental disabilities. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02785-9