Despite lots of scientific investigation, the cause of TD remains relatively unknown. Most investigations seem to implicate hyper-functioning dopamine circuits. At least one study showed that antipsychotic medications, which block dopamine transmission, are beneficial in suppressing tics. (Robertson, MM. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2012;97(5):166-175).That said, before you consider...

When children or adolescents come to your office showing signs of suicidal ideation, it’s necessary to conduct a focused assessment.During an interview in The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report, Cynthia Pfeffer, MD, Professor of psychiatry and director of the Childhood Bereavement Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, White Plains, NY, recommends that...

As more and more patients come to us asking if they have ADHD, we have to be cautious that we are not overdiagnosing the condition. In one study, only 5% of 260 students presenting with possible ADHD symptoms ended up meeting the DSM criteria.At universities, students who are high achievers...

An 11-year-old boy, who was admitted for suicidal ideation, is angry and wants to go home. He is marching up and down the hallways, screaming and flailing his arms in a menacing manner. You realize that medication to sedate him might be necessary, but you’re also considering a behavioral intervention.How...

Because of several factors, including high levels of dopamine, adolescents are prone to risky behavior. Controlling that risk and keeping kids safe isn’t something we as child psychiatrists can do on our own. It also takes support and help from parents, says Jess Shatkin, MD, an expert on adolescent behavior,...

Michael Gitlin, MD, director of the Outpatient Mood Disorder Program at UCLA gave The Carlat Psychiatry Report his view on newer antidepressants. He emphasized that these newer medications are no more effective than our standard antidepressants, but that it’s always good to have more options available for patients who may...

The old rule of thumb used to be that “you don’t need to worry about the person who’s worried about their memory; you need to worry about people who aren’t worried.” Although that might still be true for people already with dementia, it’s important that you pick up on memory...

Psychosis in children is difficult to determine, especially in younger kids who might not understand the concept of psychotic behavior. In more obvious cases, children will come into your office saying that they are hearing voices, or that someone is chasing them. But how do you evaluate a child for...

Choosing and prescribing the right medications for treating ADHD can be challenging. The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report spoke with Anne Buchanan, DO, Child psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, about her approach. She offers the following tips.When choosing meds, Dr. Buchanan recommends that you: Consider stimulants first line.

When we see patients with a first episode of psychosis, it can be difficult to know what the diagnosis is, and how to proceed with treatment. The Carlat Psychiatry Report spoke with Ann Shinn, MD, Director of Clinical Research, Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Research Program, McLean Hospital, for some tips...