MENTAL HEALTH
Below are common mental health problems treated in our office. Depending on the severity of these conditions, a referral may be made for specialty care with a psychiatrist or other qualified healthcare professional. If medication is prescribed to your child, it will require follow ups at least every six months, if not more often. Medication changes are not routinely made over the phone. It is okay if you do not know what category your child belongs. We are here to help. Please let our office know if you are scheduling an appointment for new mental health concerns so we can schedule an extended visit for your child.
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
ADHD is a very common problem in the pediatric population. At times, adults can also be diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD symptoms can often be managed without medication with a variety of different parenting techniques and modifications at school. Your provider will discuss these options with you at your appointment. It is also important to remember that many other conditions can cause symptoms of ADHD. Lack of sleep is a common culprit. If you believe your child has ADHD a good place to start is to print and fill out Vanderbilt forms. You can fill out one form, here, and your child's teacher will fill out the other, here. Bring these to your appointment to better help your provider treat your child. More information on ADHD can be found here.
DEPRESSION
Occasionally feeling down or sad is part of every child's life. Part of parenting is teaching your child how to persevere and deal with grief in an age appropriate way. However, sometimes these feelings can become persistent and require further interventions. It will help your provider care for you by printing and filling out the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 found here. If you feel you or your child are going to hurt yourself/themselves or others you should seek immediate help and call 911 if necessary. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 800-273-8255. More information can be found here.
ANXIETY
Stress and anxiety can often be a good thing. It drives us to succeed and overcome adversity and hardship. It becomes a problem when it begins to overwhelm us to the point of being unable to accomplish a task. At times, it needs counseling and/or medication for treatment. Untreated anxiety can sometimes cause other mental health problems to arise including, depression or lack of focus. You can learn more here.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Autism is a common problem that can sometimes explain developmental and psychological delays in children. Your child will be screened for autism at their 2 year old well child check with the form found here. Printing and filling out this form in advance can save time during your visit. No two children diagnosed with autism are exactly the same. Many older conditions, like Asperger's, now collectively fall under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many children with autism are high functioning and do very well with some modifications. Others require medication to help control aggressive behaviors. This disorder is complex and often requires multiple specialists to help manage. To learn more about autism, click here.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
Thankfully, substance use is not as common in children as it is in adults. However, it remains an important part of pediatric care. In addition to being harmful to children's health, it is also illegal. Abused substances most commonly include tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana but also include dangerous drugs like inhalants, hallucinogens, amphetamines, and opioids. Children often have access to these substances from the adults in their lives. Other abused substances come in the form of prescription medication that is being taken outside of it's intended purpose. Substance use is often a result of or worsened by other untreated mental health disorders. To read more about Substance Use Disorders, click here.
OTHER DISORDERS
There are many other mental health disorders not mentioned above that remain an important part of pediatric care. These include, but not limited to, obsessive compulsive disorders, conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorders, and post traumatic stress disorders. Please make an appointment to further discuss various treatment options.