Conditions in young people.

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, which can be mild or severe. Symptoms of anxiety sometimes can manifest in the body, with muscle tension, dizziness and palpitations, among others.

Everyone feels anxious at certain times, but some people find it hard to control their worries, which might be constant and can often affect their daily lives. Anxiety disorders are very common: up to one-third of the population are affected during their lifetime. Sometimes anxiety presents in the form of acute panic attacks, with physical symptoms and intense fear. A certain degree of depression can accompany anxiety and can be severely debilitating.

Children of parents with anxiety disorders have about a two-fold increase (RR2.2-2.8) risk of developing the same disorder and may benefit from an early mental health screening.

In my mental health screening, I carefully check for the presence of subtle anxiety disorders and consider a number of different treatments available that can help us find the right interventions tailored to your needs.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour.

ADHD may affect up to seven % of the general population. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.

Although symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age, frequently, ADHD is not recognised when someone is a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult. People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety disorders.

Children of parents with ADHD have an eight-fold (RR 8.4) increased risk of developing the same disorder and may also be at risk of developing other mental disorders such as bipolar disorder.

In my mental health screening, I can offer a specialised state-of-the-art diagnostic assessment for ADHD vulnerability and associated treatment.

If your mood swings from feeling sad to feeling very high, irritable or overactive and energetic, and each episode lasts for a sustained amount of time, you might suffer from bipolar affective disorder.

During the depressed phase, you might feel sad, lack energy and hope and lose interest in things.

During periods of “high” mood (mania or hypomania), you might feel extremely energetic, don’t feel the need for sleep and have very fast thoughts; you might, however, also be very irritable and experience psychotic symptoms, such as hearing or seeing things that are not there or becoming convinced of things that are not true.

According to the degree of the symptoms, the condition can severely affect your life. 2% of people will suffer from bipolar disorder in their lifetime.

Children of parents with bipolar disorder have a nine-fold (RR 9) increased risk of developing the same disorder. Typically, bipolar disorders are poorly recognised, and their diagnostic detection may take up to 10-15 years.

In my mental health screening, I will carefully assess the presence of vulnerable mental states for bipolar disorders, in particular in children and provide a prompt detection of any problem. I will then recommend a specific course of preventive care to restore well-being and avoid future problems.

Persistent feelings of sadness, tiredness, hopelessness, and losing interest in things you used to enjoy may indicate you are suffering from clinical depression. You are not being lazy, and you can’t just “snap out of it”. In severe cases, you might even think that life is not worth living.

Depression is a common disorder, with more than 300 million people affected worldwide. It can occur in isolated episodes, recur in multiple episodes, or be part of a bipolar illness.

Children of parents with depressive disorders have about a two-fold increase (RR2.2-2.8) risk of developing the same disorder, and they may be at risk of developing other mental disorders such as mood disorders.

In my mental health screening, I will assess the presence of subtle depressive features and identify the right treatment, for example, psychological therapy or medications, that can help you can recover and prevent poor outcomes.

Obsessive symptoms usually present as intrusive, unwanted thoughts accompanied by pressure and anxiety. People usually recognise them as their own, albeit senseless, thoughts, which they try to resist. This can become a disorder when it takes up a significant amount of time and energy. It may be associated with mental or physical actions one feels compelled to do, which are called compulsive behaviours. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may affect up to three % of the general population.

In my mental health screening, we will assess the presence of these features, and if this problem is detected, we will discuss the right treatment, usually a combination of medication and psychological intervention.

When you suffer from a psychotic disorder, you might have unusual experiences, such as seeing or hearing things that other people don’t or holding beliefs that are not true. Some people believe they are being monitored or followed. You might also feel that you prefer spending time alone, are withdrawn from family and friends, you might lack energy or motivation, and you might struggle to live your usual life.

Usually, these symptoms emerge gradually and insidiously but can be dramatically precipitated by the use of recreational drugs, such as cannabis or cocaine.

About 1% of the general population will develop schizophrenia, but the percentage increases significantly if all causes of psychosis are considered. 

Children of parents with psychotic disorders have a five-fold (RR 5.8) increased risk of developing the same disorder.

I have special expertise in mental health screening of young people who may be at risk of developing psychosis. Early detection of these vulnerabilities is essential to formulate a tailored preventive plan.

However, if a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder is already established, it is typically best managed with the package of care provided by a range of mental health professionals within the NHS Care Programme Approach.