Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians – Details, episodes & analysis

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Navigating Treatment for ADHD and Anxiety in Kids

Ever wondered which to treat first in kids who have both ADHD and anxiety? Dr. Elise Fallucco, child psychiatrist, tackles this common dilemma in the latest episode of Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians. She shares fresh insights and data, stressing the importance of starting with stimulant medication for ADHD. Dr. Elise also discusses medication types, dosages, and the rationale behind her treatment choices, while addressing common parental concerns and considerations. Tune in to understand how to navigate this complex but crucial aspect of pediatric mental health care!

00:00 Introduction to ADHD and Anxiety in Children

01:02 Which Condition to Treat First: ADHD or Anxiety?

02:05 Why Treat ADHD with Medication?

03:47 Choosing the Right Medication for ADHD and Anxiety

04:58

08:54 Pharmacogenetic Testing for ADHD

09:22 Non-Stimulant Medication Options

10:15 Alpha Agonists for ADHD and Anxiety

11:50 Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors: A Third-Line Treatment

14:49 Important Clinical Considerations and Recap

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 In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of CANNABIS and its impact on the developing teen brain and MENTAL HEALTH. 

Dr. Fallucco discusses the latest research on THC and CBD, revealing how modern cannabis has become significantly more potent. Learn about the risks associated with adolescent cannabis use, such as impaired prefrontal cortex development, increased anxiety risk, and associations with psychosis. Dr. Fallucco also offers practical tips for clinicians on how to counsel teens and their families about cannabis use and harm reduction strategies. Don’t miss out on these valuable insights to better support your pediatric patients.

00:00 Introduction to Child Mental Health Podcast

00:39 Understanding Cannabis: THC and CBD

02:28 Cannabis Use Among Adolescents

03:36 Impact of Cannabis on the Teen Brain

05:29 Mental Health Risks: Anxiety and Psychosis

07:39 Practical Advice for Clinicians

08:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Do you have patients with severe ADHD who are just not getting better?  Did you know that they *might* have undiagnosed bipolar?  

In this episode, Dr. Fallucco and Dr. John Walkup talk about how to distinguish bipolar disorder in children and teens from ADHD. They provide clinical pearls for clinicians and share examples from kids and teens with bipolar.  

Some Key differences between ADHD and BIPOLAR highlighted include :

- the nature of relationships in ADHD vs. BIPOLAR

• Kids w/ ADHD tend to be fun, likable while kids with BIPOLAR have more serious problems in relationships, including with their own parents

-  extreme impulsivity

• Kids and teens with Bipolar have more extreme, intense impulsive aggression and emotional reactions

** Early identification and consultation with psychiatry is key to helping support these kids and families best.**

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Have you ever wondered if one of your patients has bipolar? On this episode, we talk about the red flags for bipolar - and questions you can ask to determine whether they may have bipolar. We discuss key signs such as the inability to regulate upside mood, decreased need for sleep, hypersexuality, and grandiosity, providing concrete examples and questions to help guide your clinical assessment. Join Dr. Elise Fallucco and Dr. John Walkup as they offer valuable insights into distinguishing bipolar disorder from other conditions like ADHD and anxiety.

00:00 50 - RED FLAGS for Bipolar w/ Dr. John Walkup

01:30 ***Not all MOOD SWINGS are bipolar***

02:10 RED FLAGS for BIPOLAR - Inability to regulate UPSIDE mood

02:28 Appetites for FUN and Mood

04:22 Energy Drive - Wake up ready to go

04:52 What Questions to Ask about SLEEP to see if they could have bipolar

06:03 Hypersexuality in KIDS presents as interest in romance

07:06 Grandiosity

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Welcome to our new segment called Mystery Case Files where we walk through a clinical case that presents a bit of mystery. Using the latest research and evidence, we discuss practical approaches to help YOU care for your patients effectively.

This episode features the case of a nine-year-old boy with anxiety who develops new onset of behavior problems. 

00:00 Introduction to Mystery Case Files

00:27 Today's Mystery case

00:27 Presenting the Case: A 9-Year-Old with Anxiety

00:54 Initial Thoughts and Differential Diagnosis

01:32 Reviewing the Patient's History

02:04 Choosing the Right Medication for Anxiety

02:10 What is the best medication for anxiety?

03:34 Four Weeks Later: Follow-Up Visit

03:58 Analyzing New Symptoms and Possible Causes

05:01 Is the anxiety medication making him worse?

05:26 Exploring ADHD and Medication Side Effects

07:09 Understanding Activation Syndrome

08:45 Pharmacokinetics and Genetic Factors

10:25 Solving the Mystery and Next Steps

11:02 Conclusion and Call to Action

Visit us on our website or message us with YOUR MYSTERY CASE that we can discuss!

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In this episode of Psyched for Peds, Dr. Elise Fallucco and her teenage son, Chase Fallucco, discuss the seasonal surge of mental health symptoms, termed the 'emotional flu,' impacting teenagers during October and November.  They discuss:

** What are the symptoms and signs of the emotional flu?

** Why are October and November high-risk periods for the Emotional Flu?

** What can we do to "vaccinate" teens against the Emotional Flu?

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It's time to talk about the mental health impact of *parenting*... and what we can do about it. Join me and our special guest, Ashley, a working mom, as we explore practical tools and exercises to recognize and address signs of BURNOUT.  This episode is for parents AND for all of us who need to take care of ourselves so that we can care for others.  We talk about practical tools like:

** The stress continuum: Are you green, yellow, orange, or red?

** 'What's on your plate' or 'What's on your mind?': Exercises to assess and reprioritize responsibilities. 

*** Self-care that WORKS to recharge mentally and physically:  including social connections, creative expression, and exercise 

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If you think you may be experiencing burnout, what can you do? To answer this question, Dr. Fallucco discusses strategies to combat healthcare burnout with Dr. Jessi Gold, Chief Wellness Officer at the University of Tennessee Health System. 

 WE discuss:
*  That systemic changes in Healthcare are urgently needed to reduce burnout.
*  Individual strategies to address burnout in the current healthcare system including:
----- practicing self-reflection -  and asking, "How Do *I* feel?" and "How is my job affecting my health?"  
-----practicing self-compassion and gratitude, which can help counterbalance the natural tendency for our brain to focus on negative things and threats, 
---  We discuss the “Three Good Things” exercise which  can help reduce burnout and increase well-being. Three Good Things and other free tools are available at the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality online at: https://hsq.dukehealth.org/tools/ 

Dr. Jessi Gold is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UT Health Science Center. Dr. Gold is not only a psychiatrist, but she is a mental health advocate and fantastic writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, InStyle, Slate, and Self. 

https://www.drjessigold.com/
@drjessigold

Dr. Gold's new memoir is called
 How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine available on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982199776?tag=simonsayscom

Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
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HALF of all healthcare workers are Burned Out.  But most of us typically power through without recognizing the classic signs.  How can you tell when you're going through burnout? And more importantly, what is it about the culture of medicine and healthcare that increases our risk of experiencing burnout? 
To help us sort through these issues and RECOGNIZE signs of burnout, we talk with Dr. Jessi Gold, Psychiatrist and Chief Wellness Officer of the University of Tennessee Health System.  She is the author of a memoir called How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine.  This book highlights her experience taking care of healthcare workers during the pandemic, and  emphasizes the *emotional toll that it is involved when we're taking care of others*. 

** What are the signs of burnout?

** Why is it so hard to recognize burnout?

** How can we start to notice when we are going down the path of burnout?

Dr. Jessi Gold is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UT Health Science Center. Dr. Gold is not only a psychiatrist, but she is a mental health advocate and fantastic writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, InStyle, Slate, and Self. 

https://www.drjessigold.com/

Her new memoir is called
 How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine available on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1982199776?tag=simonsayscom

Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds

Send us a text

Join us as we wrap up our first year of PsychEd4Peds and prepare for a summer break!

Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
Follow us on Instagram @psyched4peds