Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | DSM | Free Articles

Changes in diagnostic criteria not only affect the clinical and public perception of a disorder, but also its perceived prevalence. Such is the case with autism. The evolution of the autism diagnosis since it was introduced into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in 1980 inarguably has altered its reported prevalence.

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | DSM

Clinicians used to say, “Oh, autism is very clear. It’s the one true disorder in child psychiatry.” Now we realize that there’s a spectrum, which makes some sense, especially from a broad evolutionary perspective: If these changes were totally maladaptive, they presumably would have been lost over time; instead, they’ve persisted. That suggests that, for some people, some other combinations of these genes must be somewhat or even quite adaptive.

Topics: Child Psychiatry | News of Note | Pharmaceutical Industry | Psychopharmacology

In November 2016, the FDA announced that it was requiring two companies to withdraw their generic versions of Concerta (OROS methylphenidate) because of efficacy concerns. Such actions are quite unusual, and when they occur, they tend to shake doctors’ confidence in the generic drug system—which branded drug companies are often eager to encourage. But the Concerta case is hardly an indictment of generic drugs, or even of generic stimulants. Let’s dig a little deeper for some insight into the generic drug process.

Topics: Child Psychiatry | OCD | Research Update

Study Reviewed: Lenhard F et al. Therapist-guided, Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized controlled trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017;56(1):10–19. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2016.09.515

Topics: ADHD | Child Psychiatry | Research Update

We know that kids with ADHD often have sleep issues, and that the stimulants we use to treat them can cause insomnia. What would happen if we focused our treatment on the insomnia portion of ADHD? Presumably kids would sleep better, but would their ADHD symptoms also improve?

Topics: Autism Spectrum Disorder | Child Psychiatry | DSM

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