Handbook of Mind/Body Integration in Child and Adolescent Development

The Handbook of Mind/Body Integration in Child and Adolescent Development examines issues relating to the mind/body connection in the development of children and adolescents, addressing problems of adverse life experiences with clinical implications, including somatization, functional or unexplained medical disturbances in various organ systems, psychosomatic conditions, and the effects. It discusses the interactions of emotions, experiences, thoughts in the mind – and their manifestations in the body – of children and youth. The book describes the effects of bodily conditions on the emotional state and mental functioning of children, such as cerebral palsy, major medical conditions, and other chronic health problems. It also explores the effects of chronic stress as well as child neglect and abuse on bodily manifestations.

Key areas of coverage include:

• Developmental issues in the embodiment of self and body image in children and adolescents.
• Trauma and mind/body consequences in children and adolescents.
• Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
• Unexplained medical conditions, somatoform disorders, and conversion disorders during childhood and adolescence, including unexplained conditions in different organ systems (e.g., gastrointestinal, dermatological, neurological).
• Body/mind conditions in youth with physical and intellectual disabilities and chronic or severe medical conditions, including palliative care.
• Complementary and alternative treatment approaches to mind/body issues in children and adolescents, supplementing the usual mental health interventions.

The Handbook of Mind/Body Integration in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is an essential resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians, therapists, and related professionals in developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, family therapy, social work, pediatrics, and public health.