There are times when the therapist and parent may determine that the child should be evaluated by a psychiatrist. In that event a referral would be made to schedule the child with the Center’s psychiatrist or to another community psychiatrist.
The child psychiatrist is a physician licensed to practice medicine specializing in evaluating, diagnosing, preventing, and treating children with psychiatric disorders. As a physician, the child psychiatrist is trained to understand the body’s physical functions and the complex relationship between emotional illness and other medical illnesses.
FAQs
MedicationThe psychiatrist might prescribe medication. Psychiatric medication is part of the comprehensive plan of treatment, with ongoing evaluation and monitoring. Just like a diabetic patient who needs insulin or a heart patient nitroglycerin, a patient suffering from a mental health problem may need psychiatric medication.
Medication may reduce or eliminate troubling symptoms and improve the daily functioning of children and adolescents, but they may also have unwanted side effects. The doctor will educate the family about the medication. It is always the family’s responsibility to decide whether they choose to accept or refuse any recommendations for medicine.
Medication may reduce or eliminate troubling symptoms and improve the daily functioning of children and adolescents, but they may also have unwanted side effects. The doctor will educate the family about the medication. It is always the family’s responsibility to decide whether they choose to accept or refuse any recommendations for medicine.
