This document discusses several common emotional and behavioral problems in early childhood, including separation anxiety, feeding disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, enuresis, sleep problems, and somatization. It provides descriptions of symptoms for each problem and notes that a mental health professional can provide a detailed assessment, counselling, play therapy, and medications to help address these issues.

1. Emotional and
behavioural problems
in early childhood.
Dr. Jalpa P. Bhuta
Consultant Woman and Child
Psychiatrist.
MD (Psychiatry); DNB
( Psychiatry); MRCPsych ( UK).

2. Separation Anxiety
Unable to sleep without parent
Persistent refusal to go to school
Repeated nightmares of
separation
Severe anxiety when child has to
leave parents
Repeated somatic complaints ie
headache, tummy ache, vomitting
etc.

3. Feeding Disorder
Persistent failure to eat
Significant failure to gain
weight
Loss of weight
Onset before 6 years
.
Not explained by medical
reasons.

4. Oppositional Defiant
disorder
Hostile, defiant behavior
pattern >6 months
Often loses temper
Often argues with adults
Angry and resentful
Blames other for mistakes and
behaviour.
Deliberately annoys others

5. ADHD
INATTENTION
Careless mistakes in schoolwork/
activities
Unable to finish tasks/chores/
play
Gets easily distracted
Forgetful

6. ADHD
HYPERACTIVITY
Keeps fidgeting/ squirming in
seat
Unable to stay seated/ runs out
of class
Talks excessively
Always ‘on the go’

7. ADHD
IMPULSIVITY
Blurts out answers before
sentence is asked
Difficulty awaiting turn
Butts into conversations
All before 7 yrs of age.

8. Enuresis
Repeated voiding of urine in
bed/ clothes.
Child atleast 5 yrs. of age.
Impairment in social/ academic
areas of functioning.
No physical cause.

9. Sleep problems
Settling and night waking
problems
Nightmares
Night terrors, sleep walking

10. Somatization
PAIN
Stomacheaches,
headaches,bodyaches
NAUSEA, VOMITING
Nausea, vomits, doesn’t eat well
BOWEL PROBLEMS
Costipated, diarrhoea,painful
bowel movts.etc.

11. Role of mental
health professionel
Detailed assessment
Family dynamics, parent child
communication
Interview with child
Counselling
Play therapy
Medications.