The Psychopharmacology Program at Children's Hospital Boston sees children and adolescents, ages 4 to 18, with a wide range of psychiatric conditions to determine if medication would be helpful in their treatment.
If we determine that medication is necessary, we work with the child and their family to select appropriate medication and set up a treatment plan and system to monitor their progress.
Before children are referred to the Psychopharmacology Program, they must be participating in psychosocial treatment. Psychosocial treatment can include psychoeducational, cognitive, behavioral and dynamic treatment approaches in individual, family and group interventions.
Who we treat
We treat children and adolescents with four types of problems:
- Impulse control and attentional disorders, such as ADHD, intermittent explosive disorder and tics
- Mood and anxiety disorders, such as major depression, bipolar disorder, OCD and anxiety disorders
- Perceptual disturbances and psychosis, such as hallucinations and delusions
- Developmental disorders, such as developmental delay and autism spectrum disorders (pervasive developmental disorders)
Evaluations
Children and adolescents are usually evaluated in two sessions. The first session is for the parents to meet with our team. The second session is for the child (sometimes with their parents) to meet with us and discuss the issue. Subsequent visits depend on the clinical diagnosis and treatment plan we create.
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