Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is a relatively common anxiety disorder in children and adolescents.   A quote from Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, Chapter 3 Section 6 states: “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is characterized by recurrent, time-consuming obsession or compulsive behaviors that cause distress and/or impairment. The obsessions may be repetitive intrusive images, thoughts or […]

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In a previous article, AUTISM: BASIC FACTS FOR INFORMED PARENTS, (Part-1, Part-2) readers were provided with an overview of the developmental history of autism, or the pervasive developmental spectrum disorders.   It was noted that while much remained to be known, we now understand that these disorders comprise a wide range of presentations. Parents were […]

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Sleep problems commonly co-occur with psychiatric problems.   Many people, parents and doctors alike, have noticed that sleep problems have been associated with several emotional and behavioral disorders, including anxiety and depression, autism, and Tourette’s disorder. A recent study from the Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Research Centre in King’s College, London examined the nature […]

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This article will attempt to provide informed parents with basic information about autism, or the “autism spectrum disorders”.   Hopefully, it will also pave the way for a future article regarding appropriate psychological/medical interventions for those children who are diagnosed as having an autistic spectrum (also called “pervasive developmental”) disorder.   CASE SCENARIO #1:   […]

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When I saw sixteen-year-old Jimmy for the first time he entered my office with trepidation. Once again he would have to launch into an evaluation for his poor performance in school.   He had been through this several times before. Some assessments yielded no other diagnosis than “he just is not motivated to do well”. […]

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