We have selected these links because we feel that they may be
helpful to individuals seeking information about mental health and family issues.
Remember: Internet sites change frequently and the sites are written and monitored by many
different people. We cannot be responsible for the opinions expressed on outside sites.
Diagnosis and treatment should only be done by a licensed professional. Some of the links
may not be appropriate for young children. Supervise children while they are using the
internet and talk to them about
Internet safety rules.
Child
and Adolescent Mental Health Issues
Parenting
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Grassroots and Support Organizations
Adult Mental Health Issues
Mental Health and Aging
Religion, Spirituality and Mental
Illness
Grief and Mourning
What is a Psychiatrist and what is
Therapy?
Assistive
Technology and Disability Information Including Learning Disabilities
Resources for On-Line Research on Mental Health
and Education
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Issues
Depression ADHD Anxiety and OCD Learning Disabilities Other issues
Depression in Children and Adolescents
- Children and Grief
This brief article from the AACAP discusses how children are likely to react to the death of a family member. It lists danger signals which may indicate the need for a psychiatric consultation. http://www.aacap.org/factsfam/grief.htm
- "Suicide and the Exceptional Child"
This article from the ERIC Digest, discusses recommendations for recognizing and dealing with adolescents at risk for suicidal behavior. It also mentions media guidelines aimed at reducing the contagious effect of suicide reports. http://ericps.ed.uiuc.edu/npin/respar/texts/special/suicide.html
- Children's books on depression
Reviews of mental health books for children. Also see Psychotherapy Section http://www.ncpamd.com/books.htm#
- Child and Adolescent Depression
An article reviewing the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of depression in children and adolescents.
- DRADA
Depression and Related Affective Disorders. It includes practical articles on topics related to mood disorder, mostly from the perspective of the Johns Hopkins Dept. of Psychiatry. This is not typical of many support groups. This site could be improved if it allowed a broader range of legitimate psychiatric opinion. http://www.med.jhu.edu/drada
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
http://www.mhsource.com/edu/psytimes/p940216.html
- SA\VE
A site dedicated to the prevention of suicide. It gives the message that suicide is usually due to treatable mental illness. There is also information and support for survivors. http://www.save.org
- Dr. Ivan Ivan's Depression
Central Goldberg is a psychiatrist who has been active on the web in psychopharmacology related site. http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
- Surviving Your Child's Suicide
A supportive brochure from "Compassionate Friends"
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD, ADHD)
Teaching Children with Attention Deficit Disorder
This article gives practical information about how to structure a classroom setting to help a child with ADHD learn.ADD Warehouse
This catalogue sells publications and other items useful for families, teachers and health professionals who help people with ADHD."Central Auditory Processing Disorder"
This article from the Parent Journal gives an overview this concept. There is some overlap between this and ADHD.ADHD Books for Children
Recommended books for children. Some are also reviewed by a 10-year old.Addvance
A new magazine for women and girls with Attention Deficit Disorder. It offers information, tips and strategies for women and girls living with ADD.National Attention Deficit Disorder Association
This organization focuses on adults with ADHD. Their recently redesigned site is easier to navigate and contains practical information for both adults and children with ADHD.CHADD
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders: Support and self-help for individuals with Attention Deficit Disorders.Local CHADD Meetings and Schedules
Find out about topics and dates of CHADD meetings near you.Booklist for Children, Adolescents and Adults
Born to Explore: The Other Side of ADD This site looks at the positive aspects of ADHD. It could be useful for individuals wondering how to channel their energy and creativity
- PERC
http://www.perc-schwabfdn.org/resources/resources.html The Parents and Educators Resource Center provides information and guidance to individuals, seeking resources to help those with learning differences gain self-esteem and maximize their potential. There is a section specific to ADHD.
- Kidsource OnLine
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/pages/dis.add.html This page contains links to a number of good articles but also has a couple of articles about controversial treatments.
- National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
This is a general article which discusses ADHD is aimed at parents and educators. http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/ADD1.html
- ADD Site in The Mining Company
http://add.miningco.com Go to Net Links, then scroll down to "Expert Answers to ADD Questions."
- Learning Difference Resources: This page catalogues resources for a wide variety of learning differences www.perc-schwabfdn.org/resources/resources.html
- Transition Programs for Individuals with ADHD and Learning Disabilities
Listings and brief descriptions of schools and transitional living geared for ADD or LD young adults making the transition from high school to college or work.
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Home Page www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm
- Education Law Home Page www.access.digex.net/~edlawinc/ Contains full test of new IDEA law, and other education related laws. It has information about Individualized Education Programs (IEP) It also has a few links to other disability law sites.
OCD and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in the classroom: suggestions for teachers
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Site for Children and Adolescents: This site is under construction but appears to be developing into a graphic-rich site aimed at children and adolescents with OCD. Be aware that it is sponsored by Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
- Checklist for obsessions and compulsions in children and adolescents (These are not substitutes for a complete psychiatric evaluation)
- Anorexia
This is a succinct article covering basic concerns about anorexia
- Bulimia
Written by a dietician, this article discusses the cycles of bingeing and purging
General Information on C & A Mental Health
- "Facts for Families" The Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has sponsored an award-winning series of 56 fact sheets. They cover a variety of topics ranging from "Children and Family Moves" and "The Influence of Rock and Music Videos" to "Know When to Seek Help for Your Child" www.aacap.org/factsfam/index.htm
- "Glossary of Symptoms & Mental Illnesses Affecting Teenagers" This is part of the AACP web site. It explains mental illnesses from an adolescent perspective. www.aacap.org/aacap/glossary/
- This site is almost overwhelming in the number of listings on one page. It groups links together by diagnosis. Areas include Attention Deficit Disorder, Fragile X Syndrome, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder and others. www.mindspring.com/~l-mills/links.html
- Disaster Handouts and Links (part of David Baldwin's Trauma Page) http://www.trauma-pages.com/ Much of this site is aimed at professionals who assist victims of natural and man-made disasters. However, there are some useful papers for victims of such disasters too. There are articles from the Red Cross and and The Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health.
- "Facts for Families" The Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has sponsored an award-winning series of 56 fact sheets. They cover a variety of topics ranging from "Children and Family Moves" and "The Influence of Rock and Music Videos" to "Know When to Seek Help for Your Child" www.aacap.org/factsfam/index.htm
- Raising children to resist violence. www.aap.org/family/parents/resist.htm This site from the American Academy of Pediatrics gives practical advice on how to teach and model positive non-violent behavior.
- The Smart Parent’s Guide to Kids’ TV. www.aap.org/family/smarttv.htm A discussion of how to decide what and how much TV children should watch. How to use TV as a spring board for family discussions.
- Air Bag safety guidelines www.aap.org/family/mnairbag.htm
- Kids Campaigns www.kidscampaigns.org/ This energetic site is an internet resource which seeks to bring communities together to improve the lives of children. This is a clearinghouse seeks to help people get actively involved on children’s issues on either a large or small scale.
- Toilet Training There are many ideas about this topic. This is the fact sheet form the AAP. www.aap.org/family/toil.htm
- Practical resources for working parents trying to balance child care and a work schedule. www.familyinternet.com/ebaby/index.html
- At-Home-Dads: Newsletter for fathers elect to stay at home to raise their children .familyinternet.com/family_health/index.html On this screen, select "parenting" on the left black bar. On the resulting screen, scroll down, and select "World's Greatest Dad"
- Foster Parents: This site is mostly devoted to issues related to parenting special needs children. There is a section devoted to foster parents. www.mindspring.com/~l-mills
- Kids' Safety This site answers kids' questions about basic safety issues and uses catchy graphics to keep kids and younger adolescents interested. www.uoknor.edu/oupd/kidsafe/kidmenu.htm
- Internet safety: This site is aimed at the more sophisticated, computer literate adolescent. It might also be useful for some adults. It goes into more detail about specifics of Internet safety www.crc.ricoh.com/people/steve/warn-kids.html
- Kids-Health This is an interactive place for kids. It uses games and catchy graphics to help kids learn how to stay healthy and helps teach them about how their bodies function. This site requires a fast modem and an updated version of "Shockwave." http://kidshealth.org/kid/
- Guide Book Puberty and Menstrual Health
A glossary of terms, lists of related books for parents, girls and educators dealing with puberty and menstruation.
- Mom to Mom Solutions Club
This is a bulletin board for the exchange of ideas and support between mothers who work outside the home.
- Prevention Online This has drug abuse prevention information for both kids and adults. www.health.org/ On the kids’ page, there is a link to a wonderful publication, SGR4KIDS, an anti-smoking publication. www.health.org/kidsarea/pubs/sgr4kids/sgrmenu.htm
- National Substance Abuse Web Index http://narsil.health.org/cgi-bin/intro.cgi This is a clearinghouse for a wide variety of information about substance abuse and treatment.
- Women and Drug Abuse
Overview of issues unique to women and drug abuse. It briefly discusses issues related to pregnancy and childbearing.
Grassroots and Support Organizations
ADHD Affective disorders Anxiety Disorders OCD Autism and Related Disorders Other
- CHADD: Support and self-help for children and adults with Attention Deficit Disorders. www.chadd.org/ There are several active chapters in our area. Contact them for dates of their programs.
- Local CH.A.D.D. Groups and Schedules: Baltimore County: www.chadd.org/chadd168.htm, CHADD of Carroll County and Owings Mills: www.chadd.org/chadd554.htm, CHADD of Catonsville/Ellicott City: www.chadd.org/chadd744.htm , CHADD of York County,PA:www.chadd.org/chadd374.htm
National Attention Deficit Disorder Association
This organization focuses on adults with ADHD. Their recently redesigned site is easier to navigate and contains practical information for both adults and children with ADHD.Baltimore County CH.A.D.D.
This site contains articles by professionals and members. It also has book reviews, research updates, poetry meeting schedules and more
- A poem for ADHD adults
- Addvance
a new magazine for women with Attention Deficit Disorder. It offers information, tips and strategies for women living with ADD www.addvance.comSupport for Affective Disorders
- National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
www.ndmda.org education support and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mood disorders. This site includes contacts for support groups by locality.
- DRADA (Depression and Related Affective Disorders)
This site includes practical articles on mood disorders, mostly from the perspective of the Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry. This is not typical of many grassroots support groups. The site could be improved if it allowed a broader range of legitimate psychiatric opinion.
- Bipolar Information Network
Online support groups for individuals with Bipolar Disorder
- Pendulum Resources
Humor, support and information on Bipolar Disorder
- The Anxiety and Panic Internet Resource This site features an anxiety-related booklist, addresses of self-help groups, and personal stories of individuals struggling with anxiety and panic disorder. www.algy.com/anxiety/index.html
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: www.adaa.org/ Look for their consumer area.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Support Groups
- Obsessive Compulsive Anonymous: This group takes a 12-step approach to recovery from OCD. http://members.aol.com/west24th/index.html
- Obsessive Compulsive Foundation This organization is by and for individuals with OCD. The site contains information on medication, psychotherapy and support for individuals with OCD. There is a chat room and a message board.
- Autism Resources
This site has links to information on research, education, behavior modification and other resources. It also has a state-by-state list of resources.
- Autism Network International
This site is run and written by individuals with Autism. The organization focuses on self-help and advocacy for people with autism.
- Don't Mourn for Us
This affirming article is by Jim Sinclair, an individual with high functioning autism. He suggests that parents should focus on and celebrate the child as he is rather than persistently mourn the child they never had. This could be a good handout for some parents.
- Facilitated Communication Institute
Facilitated Communication is an alternative means of expression for people who cannot speak, or whose speech is limited. Its use remains controversial
- Online Aspergers Syndrome Information and Support. (OASIS)
This site has links to a variety of resources for individuals and families dealing with Aspergers. Particularly nice is the section of articles on the topic.
- Aspergers Disorder Homepage
Dr. Ozbayrak's site contains a variety of information, including FAQ about Asperger's. The site publishes a list of clinicians who indicate that they evaluate and treat individuals with Asperger's.
- National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
NAMI is a grassroots organization which advocates for individuals with mental illness. The organization provides support for affected individuals and their families. There are several active chapters in the area.
- ARC Homepage http://thearc.org/welcome.html The Association for Retarded Citizens advocates for children and adults with mental retardation.
- Down’s Syndrome Family Empowerment Network www.downsyndrome.com/
- International Dyslexia Association (formerly Orton Dyslexia Society) www.interdys.org
- Other support groups and online newsgroups. This site lists a Wide Variety of newsgroups and mailing lists (Listserve) by disorder. Note: We have not reviewed the content of the individual newsgroups. www.mhsource.com/hy/connect.html
- International Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org
- CenterWatch This is a clearing house providing information about on-going clinical trials of new medications. In some cases, it can connect individuals with a specific condition with a research group studying that disorder. www.centerwatch.com
Adult ADHD Affective Disorders Anxiety Disorders OCD Others
Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
- Adults with ADHD
www.chadd.org/fact6.htm
- Coping Styles in Adults with ADD
- Neurobiological Diagnosis and Personal Responsibility: How Does Morality Relate to ADD?
- Fifty Tips on the Management of Adult ADD
- Tips for Couples Where One Partner has ADD
- FAQ about Anxiety and Panic Attacks
This page answers in detail common questions on the diagnosis and treatment of panic attacks and other anxiety issues.
- Ongoing research studies on anxiety and panic disorder
- A brief but good description of agoraphobia
- Agoraphobia
This site gives a more complete description of the symptoms of agoraphobia. It gives fairly short shrift to medication management.
- Agoraphobia Self Assessment
This brief questionnaire asks about symptoms consistent with agoraphobia or panic disorder. It is not meant to be a substitute for a psychiatric evaluation.
- Information about anxiety disorders from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America www.adaa.org/
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: This page provides brief reviews of a number of links dealing with information and support relevant to OCD. www.cmhc.com/guide/ocd.htm
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
This site has information on medication, diagnostic issues, behavioral treatments, and other resources.
- What is OCD? A brief description from the NIMH
- Liquid Prozac This article, written by an individual with OCD, highlights the need to start certain individuals on very small doses of medication and move up slowly.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation This organization is by and for individuals with OCD. The site contains information on medication, psychotherapy and support for individuals with OCD. There is a chat room and a message board.
- OCD Spectrum Disorders Connection This California-based site includes member chat area, links and other information about OCD.
- On-Line Y-BOCSThis is a well known screening measure for OCD (Not a substitute for a complete psychiatric evaluation)
Leckman et al Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, American Journal of Psychiatry July 1997 154:911-917.
- Ciarrocchi, JW, The Doubting Disease, Paulist Press, New York, 1995.
- Scrupulous Anonymous Liguori, MO (Newsletter--Roman Catholic)
- ScrupGroup http://mysp.com/p/aquaeus/scrupegroup.html (On-line discussion and mutual support--founded by a Lutheran minister
- The Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) This contains an article on scrupulosity and how a Catholic priest might identify and deal with it in the confessional.
- Article on Scrupulosity by Margo This individual describes her experience dealing with religious obsessions and compulsions, and how she used psychological and pastoral help to gain relief.
- Obsessions, Compulsions and the Chistian A discussion of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder from a Christian psychology perspective.
- Religion and Mental Health: Part I and Part II An outline on ways that religious and psychological concepts relate to each other.
- Scrupulosity: An Old Concept Revisited From Lutheran Campus Ministries. A brief discussion of the concept of scrupulosity. Some of what is disucssed here might not be considered to qualify for diagnosis at the psychiatric level.
- SA\VE has a site dedicated to the prevention of suicide. www.save.org/ It gives the message that suicide is usually due to treatable mental illness. There is also information and support for survivors.
- Web resources related to depression. This site gives a brief description of each site so that one can decide whether to access the site. It includes personal reflections on depression as well as information about diagnosis and treatment. www.cmhc.com/guide/depress.htm
- Web resources related to bipolar disorder www.cmhc.com/guide/bipolar.htm This site includes newsgroups, articles and publications listserves, information about medication.
- Dr. Ivan's Depression Central www.psycom.net/depression.central.html Dr. Ivan Goldberg is a psychiatrist who has been active on the web in psychopharmacology related sites.
- "Let’s talk facts" pamphlet series from the American Psychiatric Association. www.psych.org/ Click on "Public Information" in the Left-hand column, and go to "Let’s Talk Facts" pamphlet series.
- Consumer's Guide to Managing Medication Side Effects
This site lists side effects by symptom, not by medication and suggests what one can do to minimize the discomfort and when one might want to call the doctor.
- Prescriptions: How to be an informed consumer when communicating with your doctor about prescriptions. (Always consult your own doctor before making a medication change-each individual situation is different) www.familyinternet.com/family_health/index.html Select "health" from the black menu on the left. When the next screen comes up, select "Ask the Pharmacist"
- Benzodiazepines
Information and multiple links to sites dealing with this class of medication.
- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
Information and links to sites dealing with the SSRIs. (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil etc.)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants
Information and links to sites dealing with this older but still useful class of antidepressants.
- MAO Inhibitors
Discussion of the uses, benefits and cautions about taking these medications
- The mental diseases section of "The Mining Company" includes some useful links including information on how to prescriptions filled at free or reduced rates if you are not able to pay http://mentaldiseases.miningco.com
- Sleep Medicine Home Page Some of this page is technical, but there are sections aimed at affected individuals. There is also information on how to contact support resources www.cloud9.net/~thorpy/
- Disaster Handouts and Links (part of David Baldwin's Trauma Page) http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~dvb/pg5.htm#DISMAT Much of this site is aimed at professionals who assist victims of natural and man-made disasters. However, there are some useful papers for victims of such disasters too. There are articles from the Red Cross and and The Los Angeles Dept. of Mental Health.
- Quackwatch
This informative site is a guide to health fraud, quackery and making intelligent decisions. The author reviews the claims of a variety of controversial treatments.
- Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before You Have Surgery
This is designed to help patients start a dialogue with their doctor before having surgery. If one is fully informed, the outcome in often better.
Mental Health and Aging
- Information about Alzheimer's Disease www.familyinternet.com/family_health/index.html Select "health" on the black menu on the left. When the nest screen comes up, select "Alzheimer's Net"
- Depression in the elderly. This is a fact sheet from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. www.nami.org/helpline/elddepres.htm
- Seniors Internet Resource Center This site lists a large number of links which may be of interest to seniors. Because of its breadth, some of the links may be more interesting than others. www.ageofreason.com
- "Caregiver, Take Good Care of Yourself"
This comprehensive series of articles covers a number of topics related to health and well-being of caregivers of Alzheimer's patients.
- Legal and Financial Information for Families Affected by Alzheimer's
General principles to consider when planning for the care of a loved one with Alzheimer's. (Laws vary: always check with legal counsel in your state.)
- Understanding Grief when a Grandchild Dies
This article, from "Compassionate Friends" discusses the unique feelings a grandparent might feel after the death of a grandchild.
Religion, Spirituality and Mental Illness
Religion and ADD
Religious Perspectives on ADHD
If you have any information on this topic from other religious perspectives, please let us know.Christianity and ADD
What Good is Organized Religion to such a Disorganized Soul?
Impulsive Children, Imperfect Parents
Did the Apostle Peter Have ADD?
Prayer and Inattentiveness
Judaism and ADD
A Bar Mitzvah as Redemption for an adolescent with ADHD
Special Education in Jewish SchoolsI am looking for input on an aspect of the Seder service. There is a commandment to teach each of four sons differently. Does this have implications for the concept of individualized education in the schools? If you have information, please let me know.
Books for Christian Counselors
Links to information about books for Christian pastoral counselors
Grief, Loss and Resolution
This article discusses basic issues associated with loss, grief and mourning. It includes advice on how to deal with the mourning process and when to seek help.Grieving Men
Discusses theories of Parker and Bowlby and the stages of grief. It then relates these to issues specific to grieving men.Coping with Sudden Loss
Issues specific to a loss that was traumatic or unexpected.Hygeia: Journal of Pregnancy Loss
An Online journal written by an OB/Gyn with contributions from individuals who have experienced stillbirth and pregnancy loss.National SIDS Resource Center
This site contains information about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, a newsletter, and stories of parents' experience coping with the loss of an infant.Widownet
This is a large site devoted to those who have lost a spouse/life partner. It includes bulletin boards, informational articles and memorials.How Children Deal with Grief
This brief article discusses how children mourn the death of a sibling and how adults can help the surviving children cope.
What is a Psychiatrist and what is Therapy?
- Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Home Page www.aacap.org/web/aacap/ I have bookmarked several areas of this web site in other areas.
- www.aacap.org/aacap/q&a.htm#TOP This area contains information about the field of child and adolescent psychiatry as well as practical advice for families. Be sure to check "Facts for Families" www.aacap.org/factsfam/index.htm
- The AACAP gives the following Definition of a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
- American Psychiatric Association Home Page: Click on "Public Information" in the Left-hand column and go to "Choosing a Psychiatrist" www.psych.org/
- Please see www.ncpamd.com/our.htm# where we discuss several therapeutic modalities and how we approach therapy.
Assistive Technology and Disability Information Including Learning Disabilities
- Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities www.sedl.org/rural/seeds/assistivetech/atld.html
- A resource dedicated to improving the lives of families affected by learning disabilities This site has a number of links to information about ADHD and Learning disabilities. It includes educational and legal links. www.perc-schwabfdn.org
- Learning Disabilities This is a fun and informative site for children, parents and teachers. Children can contribute their creations to the online gallery in the kids' magazine. There are a number of links, resources and tips for families. Includes a good section titled "what is dyslexia?" www.ldonline.org
- Family Village: www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/ Information, resources and communication opportunities for individuals with mental retardation and other disabilities and their families.
- National Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities www.nichcy.org/general.htm Information on disability-related issues for families, professionals and educators. They will also send you some colorful child-affirming posters.
- Our Kids Support for parents and caregivers who deal with children with physical or mental disabilities. http://rdz.stjohns.edu/library/support/our-kids/ In additional to practical information, it includes poems and inspirational messages from other parents.
- Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic This is a national service for individuals who cannot read print. These services are available for people with visual impairments or dyslexia. www.rfbd.org/
Resources for On-Line Research
- Ask Eric: (Eric is the Educational Resources Information Center) This excellent web site enables the user to search the extensive Eric database in a number of different ways. For those who are unfamiliar with these kind of searches, there is a section with expert sample search strategies. Some of the sample searches included "counseling students for school to work transitions" and "Conflict mediation in schools." www.aspensys.com/eric/
- Eric Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education: www.cec.sped.org/ericec.htm
- Library of Congress http://lcweb.loc.gov/homepage/lchp.html
- MEDLINE search. The National Library of Medicine has an on-line search engine to search this extensive medical database. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/medline.html
What is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist?
(From the AACAP Website www.aacap.org.)
THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIST
March 1995
The child and adolescent psychiatrist is a licensed physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of thinking, feeling or behavior affecting children, adolescents and their families. As a physician, a child and adolescent psychiatrist offers families the advantage of a medical education, the medical tradition of professional ethics, physician-patient accountability and experience in being responsible for human life.
PRACTICE
The child and adolescent psychiatrist uses a knowledge of biological, psychological and social factors in working with patients. Initially, a comprehensive diagnostic examination is performed to evaluate the current problem with attention to its physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, cognitive, educational, family, peer and social components, arriving at a diagnosis and diagnostic formulation for the youngster, and if appropriate, the family. The child and adolescent psychiatrist then designs a treatment plan which considers all the components and discusses these recommendations with the child or adolescent and family. An integrated approach may involve individual, group or family psychotherapy; medication; or consultation with other physicians or professionals from schools, juvenile courts, social agencies or other community organizations, often involving other professional disciplines. Except with older adolescents and young adults, the parents or caretaking family almost always participate in the therapeutic program.
TRAINING
Child and adolescent psychiatric training requires 4 years of medical school, 1 year of supervised hospital medical training (internship), at least 2 years of approved residency training in general psychiatry with adults, and 2 years of training in psychiatric work with children, adolescents and their families in an approved residency in child and adolescent psychiatry.
In the general psychiatry training years, the resident achieves competence in the basis of psychiatric work. In the child and adolescent psychiatry residency, the trainee acquires a thorough knowledge of normal child and family development as well as psychopathology, and treatment. Special importance is given to disorders that appear in childhood, such as pervasive developmental disorder, learning disabilities, mental retardation, depression, drug dependency and delinquency. The child psychiatric resident further applies and develops psychiatric skills by treating youngsters and their families.
The evaluation and treatment of inpatients and outpatients is important throughout the residency, with a concentration on delivery of appropriate treatment within the family's financial and psychological means. This training includes supervised experience with children of all ages and from all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, in long-term or family treatment. The training with hospitalized children and adolescents provides the preparation for full hospital admission and treatment privileges.
CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Having completed the child psychiatry residency and successfully passed the examination in general psychiatry given by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the child and adolescent psychiatrist is eligible for certification in the subspecialty of child and adolescent psychiatry. Although these last two examinations are not required for practice, they are a further assurance that the child and adolescent psychiatrist who are trained and certified in this way can be expected to diagnosis and treat all psychiatric conditions of patients of any age, or refer them for such treatment, and they are prepared to contribute in many ways to serve the welfare of children and their families.
The child and adolescent psychiatrist, as any other physician, continues to study and learn about the new advances in the specialty by reading scientific literature and attending conferences, to be able to apply new knowledge effectively in daily diagnostic, therapeutic and consultative work.
- Don't give out your name, address, telephone number, school, passwords or other personal information.
- Don't buy anything on the Internet unless your parents say it's OK.
- Don't ever get together with someone you met online unless your parents say it's OK. Some people online may not be who they say they are..
- From "Prevention Online" www.health.org/kidsarea/safe/safe.htm
- For a more detailed discussion about Internet safety: www.crc.ricoh.com/people/steve/warn-kids.html
A Special Poem for ADHD Adults:
I burn my candle at both ends.
It will not last the night.
But ah, my friends, and oh, my foes,
It gives a lovely light!
from A Few Figs From Thistles by Millay. 1920 ...With thanks to Marguerite T. Watkins
Contact Us
Telephone: 410-329-2028
Fax:410-343-1272
Email: ncpa@qis.net (Please use phone for appointments or medical concerns)
Postal address: 16829 York Road/ PO Box 544/ Monkton, MD 21111
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Return to Home PageCopyright © 1997 Northern County Psychiatric Associates
Last modified: March 09, 1999
