Despite the large number of children that the Surgeon General of the United States estimated to be suffering from a mental disorder (Office of the Surgeon General, 2000), the majority of childhood disorders are undiagnosed and untreated. The negative effect of childhood disorders on a child's academic, social, and psychological development can be…

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by disturbing thoughts, impulses, or images (obsessions); repetitive or ritualistic behaviors (compulsions); or the presence of both. Although some may believe this disorder is isolated to the adult population, it affects anywhere from 1% to 4% of children in the United…

Data from the federal Center for Mental Health Services indicate that one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents may be suffering from depression. Up to 70% of children with diagnosable mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders are not receiving mental health services, according to the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health.…