Child psychiatry in primary care

Abstract

This article aims to give a brief summary of child psychiatric practice in a primary care setting. Five types of common childhood psychopathology are described, these include anxiety disorders, antisocial behaviour, enuresis, hyperactivity, and child abuse. The emphasis is on the recognition of the disturbance and practical advice on early treatment strategies. The epidemiological aspects of child psychiatric disturbances in primary care setting and referral practices reported in the West are summarised. Throughout the article, references to data relevant to the local context are made.