Topics: Child Psychiatry | Gender & Sexuality

More and more children are expressing to their parents questions, worries, or declarations about their gender. Dr. Ehrensaft's experience at the Child and Adolescent Gender Center is that medical, mental health, educational, and legal expertise all contribute to optimal care of gender patients. In this article she describes that care.

Topics: Child Psychiatry | Gender & Sexuality

What do we know about how gender identity forms for the average person? When does it emerge, and is there a developmental component to gender identity? Dr. Drescher discusses these questions and the current state of gender dysphoria in DSM-5.

Topics: OCD | Psychopharmacology Tips | Research Updates

The pharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for adults is pretty well worked out. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the gold-standard treatment. We have multiple randomized, placebo-controlled trials to back this up. However, we know less about medication treatment of OCD for children.

Topics: Antipsychotics | Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | Research Updates

Atypical antipsychotics are commonly used to reduce irritability and agitation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although effective, these medications lead to weight gain and other metabolic problems. Strategies like tailored diet plans and exercise can help, but they are often not enough. If not interrupted early, for many, continued weight gain will lead to diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease later in life.

Topics: test cme quiz

CME post-tests are available to subscribers only. If you are not a subscriber or your subscription has expired, renew here to take the post-test and earn CME credit. This CME/CE activity is intended for psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, psychologists and other health care professionals with an interest in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.