Mental, Behavioral and Development Health

This month’s quiz will test your knowledge of key diagnostic points in the screening process for depression in primary care. You’ll test your knowledge on 5 key points. Each point gives you context for the correct answer-and, most importantly, provides valuable resources.

More parents are looking to nutritional supplements to address depression symptoms in their children. Here’s what pediatricians need to know about the risks and benefits of these treatment options.

Whereas rates of screening for adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) have increased in recent years, they still are insufficient to address the current mental health crisis among adolescents, an analysis of countrywide data for 413,080 12- to 14-year-olds showed.

Infections and how they are treated early in life may impact how mental health disorders develop early on, according to a new report, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the mind/body connection.

Teenagers who display certain obsessive-compulsive symptoms, even without a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), may be at higher risk for other serious psychiatric problems.

The teenaged years are difficult across the board, but a report highlights the additional challenges for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) adolescents and calls to attention their increased risk for suicide attempts.

Pediatricians are in a unique position to identify risk factors for suicide and provide anticipatory guidance and interventions to patients and families.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses the draft statement from the US Preventive Services Task Force on the need to refer pregnant women at risk of perinatal depression to appropriate counseling.

Mental health is a critical component of pediatric overall health. Early recognition of subtle signs and symptoms of mental health problems followed by immediate treatment is an equally critical element to ensure the establishment of normal mental health throughout development.

Pediatricians need to recognize symptoms of perinatal depression in new mothers, provide basic counseling and treatment, and refer for appropriate services when needed.

Pediatricians are quite capable of caring for both the physical and mental health of patients. Here is how embedding mental health services into your practice and collaborating with community mental health professionals can accomplish both.

The startling increase in the number of adolescents thinking about and attempting suicide is a wake-up call for pediatric healthcare providers to take action and help these children at risk.

Only 20% of all children covered under Medicaid received a mental health diagnosis, and 80% were given at least 1 prescription medication to treat their condition, according to a recent report.

Suicide rates are rising, according to a new report. There is no singular cause for this rise, and the same is true for the solution.

A first-ever study reveals that cybernegativity can lead some young persons to bully themselves online.

Two new studies quantify the negative effects of adverse events in childhood on physical and mental health issues in LGBTQ individuals.

Homeless children face a multitude of problems, and clinicians have little guidance on the best ways to help them.

Jane Mendle, PhD’s research at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, investigating the long-term psychological effects of early puberty has significant implications for our practices as pediatric nurse practitioners-and for all healthcare providers.

Too many children with depression go undiagnosed and untreated, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Updated guidelines should address this standard of care.

Do you talk to your pediatric patients about what they are watching on YouTube and other video sites? Maybe you should be.

Children who view movies with gun violence are more interested in guns and violence than their peers who do not have this exposure, a recent experiment showed.

Many children face trauma at some point in their lives, but training on resilience and open communication can help.

Pediatricians may be the first or only resource for some trans or gender nonconforming youths, and it’s important to offer them support and resources, particularly when it comes to navigating all-too-common high-risk behaviors.

A new online tool may help clinicians predict if a child of a parent with bipolar disorder (BD) will follow in their footsteps

In its first-ever guidance on non-pharmacological interventions for pediatric mental health disorders, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides guidance, as well as a roadmap for future advocacy work.

Pediatricians are often asked questions by parents about the effect of environmental exposures on the health of their children. Although some environmental exposures can be detrimental to children’s health, not all are despite the often erroneous claims made by the media.

I believe we have an opportunity to improve the care of our children by overcoming the stigma of mental health disorders and other barriers, and by applying professional standards in the pediatric medical home for the provision of mental health services to children.

I believe many physicians in primary care are troubled practicing in the current healthcare environment. Regardless of what they earn, many feel they are too busy and don’t have time to adequately listen to the concerns of their patients and their families.