Disorders of lipid metabolism—specifically inefficient metabolism of lipids—have been implicated as part of the metabolic complexity in children with autism spectrum disorder. Research points to the neuroprotective effects of simvastatin over other statins, due to its greater ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. But does that neuroprotection translate to differences in behavior?

The post-test for this issue is available for one year after the publication date to subscribers. By successfully completing the test you will be awarded a certificate for 2 CME credits.

What do you do when your teen patient declines an offer of medication yet the parents insist on it? How about if the teen is coming to you for medication and the parents are opposed to the idea?

How do you approach using psychotropic medications for children and adolescents? Most parents do not want to start medications. I empathize with them, which then makes it possible to move together toward medications when indicated.

Metformin has been used off-label for weight loss in psychiatry for many years, much of it for help with adult weight gain as a side effect of atypical antipsychotics. However, most trials of metformin for weight loss were actually conducted on the child and adolescent population. This article will look at the quality of the data in our pediatric population of 3 studies, and then come up with some recommendations for your practice.

Good practice using psychotropic medications with children and adolescents requires a psychiatrist to pay attention to a number of elements.

Over the last decade, several published studies have reported an increased risk of type 2 diabetes associated with antidepressant use in adults. But does the same hold true for children and adolescents?

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Anxiety is a broad concept that permeates pretty much all of our work. In particular, anxiety often compromises cognitive ability and drives acting-out behavior.