Severe Mental Illnesses in Children: Unravelling Developmental Trajectories, Neuropsychiatric Impairments, and Chronic Pain

Severe mental illnesses and neuropsychiatric conditions in children, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and intractable anxiety disorders, represent a critical area of concern within child and adolescent psychiatry. These conditions not only disrupt the lives of the affected children but also pose significant challenges for families, educators, and healthcare providers. Additionally, the presence of neuropsychiatric impairments and chronic pain further complicates these conditions, exacerbating their impact and complicating treatment approaches. Although the prevalence of severe mental illnesses in children is lower compared to adults, their impact can be devastating. Neuropsychiatric impairments and chronic pain often co-occur with these psychiatric conditions, adding layers of complexity to diagnosis and treatment. Early differential diagnosis, comprehensive treatment plans, and supportive care are essential to improving outcomes and life trajectories for these young individuals. Through this collection of research, we aim to bring together insights from various disciplines to create a holistic understanding of these complex conditions.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of severe mental illnesses in children by exploring their developmental trajectories, underlying mechanisms, and effective therapeutic interventions. The focus will be on identifying the initial indicators and symptoms, investigating contributory factors, and developing age-appropriate screening and diagnostic tools. Additionally, the research will explore the onset and progression of these illnesses from childhood into adolescence, aiming to improve early diagnosis and intervention strategies.

To gather further insights into the developmental trajectories, neuropsychiatric impairments, and chronic pain associated with severe mental illnesses in children, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Initial indicators and symptoms of severe mental illnesses in children
- Neuropsychiatric impairments and chronic pain in pediatric populations
- Contributory factors predisposing children to severe mental illnesses
- Development and validation of age-appropriate screening and diagnostic tools
- Onset and progression of severe mental illnesses from childhood into adolescence


Topic Editor Elena Monarch is the owner of the Lyme and PANS treatment Center in Hingham, MA. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject .

Keywords: schizophrenia, psychiatric disorders, mood disorders, developmental trajectory

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.