Child Psychiatry

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened our awareness of anxiety and depression in children and teens, but mental health disorders affected them long before the pandemic and will continue to cause problems in the future. If your child needs help, turn to the compassionate team at Anita Red, MD. Their board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, including child psychiatry specialist Dr. Red, have helped many children and teens overcome their challenges. Call or use online booking to request an in-person visit in Pasadena, California, or to schedule a telehealth visit if you live anywhere in California or New York state.

Why is child psychiatry a crucial service?

Children and teens struggle with a wide range of mental health challenges. Half of teens are diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Even if they’re not diagnosed, the symptoms of serious conditions like bipolar disorder begin during the early teen years.

Without psychiatric care, these problems negatively affect their social life, school performance, and overall health and well-being.  

What conditions are treated through child psychiatry?

The child and adolescent psychiatrists at Anita Red, MD, treat the full range of mental health conditions, including:

• Anxiety (including stress)
• Depression
• Autism
• Bipolar disorder
• Sleeping disorders
• Tic disorders
• Personality disorders
• Behavioral disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Though early-onset schizophrenia isn’t common, teens as young as 13 may develop signs of this challenging disorder.

What signs indicate the need for child psychiatry?

Frequent and severe emotional outbursts, defiance, aggression, school refusal, and long-lasting separation anxiety are a few of the earliest signs your child or teen may need treatment for a mental health condition.

Other warning signs include:

• Excessive anxiety, fear, or worry
• Ongoing sadness or hopelessness
• No interest in their favorite activities
• Mood swings
• Not making friends
• Avoiding friends
• Excessive time online
• Hyperactivity (constantly on the go)
• Self-critical comments (“I’m worthless,” “No one like me,” “You hate me,” and others)
• Change in sleep habits
• Change in eating habits
• Paranoid thoughts and behaviors
• Hallucinations
• Thoughts of death

A sudden drop in your child’s grades and behavioral problems at school are also red flags that they may need psychiatric care.

What should I expect during a child psychiatry appointment?

The Anita Red, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrists have a talent for connecting with their young patients. They talk with you and your child, learning about their concerns, perspectives, and feelings.

Obtaining information about your child’s physical and mental health, including their medical history, is at the heart of a thorough psychiatric evaluation to diagnose the cause of their symptoms. 

After diagnosing the problem, your provider recommends treatment tailored to meet your child’s needs.

The Anita Red, MD, team specializes in medication management. However, they consider all of the facets of your child’s physical and social well-being and may refer them for therapy or other services.

Early treatment improves your child’s long-term outcomes. Don’t hesitate to call Anita Red, MD, or use online booking to schedule an evaluation.