It was a busy Sunday afternoon and my weekend on call was coming to an end.   With winter officially here pediatric illnesses had picked up in both the office and the hospital. There were the typical viral upper respiratory tract infections, flare-ups of asthma, ear infections and gastrointestinal infections. It is a predictably busy […]

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Nikki’s mother brought her to the office because of a number of issues that had been going on for awhile. Her mom states that Nikki has an endless abundance of energy…that is, until a couple of weeks ago.   The young lady is 12 years old and usually an active sixth grader—a real “go-getter” according […]

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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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