NR 326 RUA: Scholarly Article Review
Student Name
Chamberlain University
NR-326: Mental Health Nursing
Prof. Name
Date
RUA: Scholarly Article Review
Psychiatric disorders in children are becoming increasingly complex. Approximately 15 million children are estimated to have some form of mental disorder. This rise is attributed to several risk factors, such as genetic predispositions within families and increased bullying in schools or communities by peers. Diagnosing children with mental health disorders is particularly challenging due to the variability in their physical, emotional, and intellectual development. This challenge is especially evident in the case of anxiety, which is considered the most common mental disorder among children. Parents often misinterpret signs of anxiety, sometimes leading to frustration with their children. As children grow and are exposed to more social environments, their awareness of personal differences increases, often resulting in heightened emotional stress (Stewart, 2020).
Article Summary
According to Stewart (2020), early identification of mental health disorders in children is critically important. Research indicates that 30–50% of children with intellectual disabilities also have a mental disorder. Without early detection, these children may experience adverse outcomes in adulthood. However, in Canada, fewer than 75% of children with mental disorders receive treatment, and wait times for such treatment can range from six months to one year. The difficulty lies in accurately assessing children’s mental health.
A newly developed assessment tool, interRAI Child and Youth Instruments, addresses this challenge. It is designed for children from birth to age 18 and uses a dimensional, holistic framework to evaluate mental health. This approach helps healthcare providers understand both the patient and the environmental factors affecting them.
NR 326 RUA: Scholarly Article Review
A study compared the interRAI instrument with other tools such as CBCL-internalizing. The interRAI anxiety scale includes six items and assesses the frequency of anxiety symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Anxious complaints or concerns
- Unrealistic fears
- Obsessive thoughts
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
- Panic episodes
- Nightmares
Higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity. The interRAI system is versatile, used across service sectors, and can follow children’s mental health development longitudinally, aiding in efficient assessment, care planning, and service prioritization (Stewart, 2020).
Table 1
Comparison of interRAI Anxiety Scale with Other Tools
| Feature/Aspect | interRAI Anxiety Scale | CBCL-Internalizing Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Target Age Group | Birth–18 years | 6–18 years |
| Items Measured | 6 anxiety-specific items | Multiple internalizing symptoms |
| Symptom Examples | Anxiety, fears, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, panic, nightmares | Depression, anxiety, withdrawal |
| Framework | Dimensional & holistic | Symptom-based |
| Usage Across Service Sectors | Yes | Limited |
| Longitudinal Tracking | Yes | Limited |
Article Critique
The article effectively highlights the major challenges in children’s mental health, offering valuable statistics on the prevalence of mental illness among children who remain untreated. It provides a detailed explanation of the interRAI assessment instrument and its advantages for diagnosing mental disorders. However, one limitation is the geographic scope of the data, which is based solely on Canadian children.
While Stewart (2020) states that approximately 15 million children go undiagnosed, U.S. statistics from the CDC provide further perspective:
Table 2
U.S. Statistics on Children’s Mental Health (Ages 2–17)
| Condition | Estimated Cases (Millions) |
|---|---|
| ADHD | 6.1 |
| Behavior Problems (Ages 3–17) | 4.5 |
| Anxiety | 4.4 |
| Depression | 1.9 |
(Data source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020)
The article’s strength lies in its evidence-based support for the interRAI tool. Nonetheless, additional studies using American data would enhance its applicability for U.S. healthcare providers.
Conclusion
Mental health disorders can begin in early childhood, and their impact can extend into adulthood if left undiagnosed or untreated. Early detection is vital for improving outcomes. The interRAI instruments offer a promising approach by enabling continuous and holistic assessment from birth through adolescence. The tool’s six-item anxiety scale evaluates complaints of anxiety, unrealistic fears, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, panic episodes, and nightmares. Its adaptability across service sectors makes it valuable for both healthcare providers and mental health professionals, improving the accuracy and efficiency of assessments, care plans, and prioritization (Stewart, 2020).
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. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02785-9