Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Hong Kong

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Hong Kong

The prevalence of mental health problems in people with disabilities is estimated at between thirty and fifty percent, in Hong Kong (Vasa & Roy, 2013). Anxiety disorders are the most common mental problems occurring during adolescent and childhood, at least one in ten people having anxiety disorders. In addition, anxiety disorders are the most common manifestations of psychological distress among people with autism. People with autism are much likely to be anxious than their non-autistic peers. Oftentimes, they are described as highly anxious. The co-morbidity of separation anxiety is frequent in people with autism. Similarly, epidemiological studies indicate that approximately eighty percent of people with autism have separation anxieties. This study concentrates on discussing the treatment method or way of Autism and Separation Anxiety Disorder among children and adolescents in Hong Kong.

Risk factors owing autism

Young people with autism are more prone to separation anxiety disorder much more than their normal peers. This can be attributed to variations like inadequate social support, lifetime of adversity and poor coping skills. In addition, lack of cognitive and social resources to cope with adulthood is believed to contribute to this vulnerability. These variations contribute to the heightened vulnerability of stressful life events that can trigger separation anxiety disorder. Poor linguistic skills, over protection and difficulties in dismissing fears are potential for separation anxiety disorder (Mash & Barkley, 2013). Sometimes, separation anxiety can be out of proportion to be attributed to something in particular. Developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder tend to make adults and children more susceptible to separation anxiety.

Autism and Separation Anxiety

Recent studies depict that that children and adolescents with autism have a high level of separation anxiety. For instance, people with severe autism demonstrate a higher level of separation anxiety on a subscale score of the DASH-II than persons of low levels of autism. Comparative studies on behavior and psychiatric disorders point that samples with autism is associated with high rates of mental health disorders, precisely separation anxiety disorder (Ozonoff, Rogers & Hendren (2013).

Adolescents and children with autism show high rates of separation anxiety disorder. High functioning autism adolescents are at a higher risk for separation anxiety than the normal population. However, the risk factors and correlates for these co-morbid issues remain unclear. In fact, young people with autism do not discuss their mental health issues in abstract terms. They tend to use descriptive terms associated with unpleasant physical and emotional sensation. Such people use words such as fed up, temper and frightened. They also describe their physiological symptoms of separation anxiety as hyperventilation and sweaty palms.

Interventions

Effective interventions are available for children and adolescents with autism and separation disorders. There is an in-depth body of literature on intervention approaches for these sorts of mental health disorders. This section presents interventions being effectively used among children and adolescents with autism and separation anxiety. They include medication, cognitive and behavioral approaches.

Behavioral approaches

The goal of this approach is to change the behavior, which is harmful or not helpful. In behavioral intervention, relaxation seems to be useful in minimizing separation anxiety and enhancing cognitive performance amongst persons with mild, moderate, and severe autism. For instance, researchers have found that relaxation behavioral training is effective in treating separation anxiety. According to a study focusing on simplified techniques in addressing anxiety, behavioral relaxation training emerged as an effective method of separation anxiety treatment (Vasa & Roy, 2013).

Cognitive behavioral approaches

Consistent with recent literature, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely used. It has been accepted by persons with autism as an effective form of psychotherapy for various forms of mental health disorders. There is a growing base of evidence for its effectiveness among the autistic population. This technique has been used successfully in the treatment of separation anxiety in young people with autism. Various studies indicate the potential feasibility of cognitive behavioral therapy amongst young people with autism in reducing separation anxiety. For instance, a number of researchers have reported statistics on individuals with success levels of using cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be useful in applying to other anxiety disorders. For instance, Ozonoff, Rogers, and Hendren (2013) demonstrate a significant decrease in separation anxiety symptoms using CBT for young people with autism. Besides, the core principles of CBT require modifications to meet the abilities of the affected persons and incorporate support needs and cognitive impairment.