Posts by The REACH Institute
REACH Founder Dr. Peter Jensen, M.D. Responds to New York Times Article, “Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?”
“It depends.” That’s my response (and that of most of my clinician-scientist colleagues who participated in the MTA study) to Paul Tough’s recent commentary. For context, from 1990-2000 I served as Associate Director for Child & Adolescent Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and was the NIMH scientist responsible for initiating and…
Read MoreFrom Screening Tools to Systems Change: Tips for Putting Your REACH Training Into Practice
When providers attend their first Patient-Centered Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care (PPP) training with REACH, many leave feeling empowered and excited to implement their new knowledge. But having evidence-based tools is only the first step in supporting mental health for children and adolescents. We asked several PPP alumni—and one who is now a faculty…
Read MoreHow Social Media is Impacting Teens
The most important question that we can ask teens isn’t if they use social media, it’s how. Just last May, the Surgeon General’s advisory on social media use in youth exposed some shocking statistics: Among 13 to 17-year-olds, up to 95% use social media, with 35% saying they use social media “almost constantly.”
Read MoreTips for Managing Mental Health Disorders in Children with Autism
“It used to be that when a diagnosis of autism was given, no other mental health comorbidities could be recognized,” explains Ruth E.K. Stein, MD, a REACH faculty member and Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. “That changed in 2013 with the release of the DSM-5. For…
Read MoreUsing CBT to Support Pediatric Patients with Depression
“As primary care providers, we can help our pediatric patients with depression using basic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools,” explains pediatrician and REACH faculty member Jackie Cotton, MD. “Many common recommendations currently used align with CBT best practices. As part of an evidence-based treatment protocol, a clear roadmap for using these tools helps clinicians save…
Read MoreAdolescent Cannabis Use and Harm Reduction
“We know that 10% of adult cannabis users will develop a substance use disorder or addiction. That number is double in adolescents,” explains child and adolescent psychiatrist Blair Ritchie, MD FRCPC, when describing one of the many research-documented risks of youth cannabis use. Yet with decriminalization and legalization in many states, cannabis is increasingly seen…
Read MoreHow Clinicians Can Partner with Schools to Support Pediatric Patients
“Clinicians who are aware of and know how to direct parents to obtain services for children within the school system can make an enormous difference for patients and families,” explains Dr. Mark Wolraich, MD, a REACH faculty member and retired professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The challenge for clinicians…
Read MoreSpotting OCD in Pediatric Patients
“Even among skilled clinicians, misconceptions about obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD can delay diagnosis and treatment,” explains Carla E. Marin, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine. With common sayings like “we’re all a little OCD” and representations of OCD that center on germs and handwashing, getting a clear picture of…
Read MoreWhy Clinicians Should Consider Coding by Time for Mental Health Care
“Many primary care providers are still coding by medical decision-making for mental health care,” explains Eugene Hershorin, MD, a REACH faculty member and medical coding expert. “However, time-based coding is both easier and often results in higher coding levels and therefore higher payment rates, especially for pediatric patients who require ongoing care for mental health…
Read MoreADHD and Racial Disparities: What Clinicians Can Do
“When a parent of color raises concerns about their child’s behavior, clinicians should always stop to assess for underlying disorders,” explains child and adolescent psychiatrist Brittainy Erby, MD. “I see many children and adolescents of color who have been diagnosed with a behavior disorder, but they actually have untreated ADHD.” The research reinforces what Dr.…
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