When a child or adolescent reports “I hear voices”, it naturally causes concern for parents and healthcare clinicians alike. The immediate question is “what is the cause”? This, followed by “what to do about it?” In these cases, the primary care clinician’s role is to provide further assessment (including consideration of potential organic causation—e.g., a […]

As schools, businesses and public places re-open this summer as the global Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve, parents will continue to look for guidance from their medical providers on how to responsibly protect their kids and their families. Today’s eWeekly provides guidelines and resources to help primary care providers begin to assist parents in addressing […]

Baseline data for the US indicates that nearly 45,000 people die by suicide each year and there is both uncertainty and concern about how these numbers will be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Today’s weekly explores potential interventions to address this problem in primary care settings. People who have been suicidal before could have a […]

This week’s SmartCare e-Weekly is pleased to share the sensitive and thoughtful insights of a special guest contributor, Miriah de Matos, MPH, MA, a parent to two young boys who works as Senior Project Specialist for AAP-CA3’s First 5 First Steps & Healthy Development Services program. As a program focused on integrating behavioral healthcare into […]

Many of us have committed ourselves to do our part with smoking cessation during our careers, but staying on course with this difficult task can be difficult. The barriers to sustaining our efforts are multiple: tobacco advertisers’ huge marketing budgets, inadequate time and reimbursement for providing treatment, patients’ psychological and physiological barriers and resistance, our […]

The prolongation of the QT interval on electrocardiogram is a rare but known risk of some psychotropic (and other) medications. A prolonged QT interval can increase the risk of Torsades de Pointes, a ventricular arrhythmia that can be fatal. Although not a concern in the pharmacologic treatment of most patients, caution is recommended when prescribing […]

A variety of studies have shown that the risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is higher in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) compared to those without ADHD and the risk for ADHD is higher in individuals with PTSD than those without PTSD. The association has been noted to be bidirectional but the strongest […]

Parents and adolescents often ask primary care and mental health providers about Cannabidiol (CBD) for anxiety, sleep or other symptoms or behaviors. Here, we discuss the latest in community standards, the state of the evidence, and encourage primary care providers to be prepared to educate families on the limited role CBD should play for children […]

In the face of the ongoing stay in place directives and with so many clinical services being limited, SmartCare will be initiating two new on line resources. WEEKLY PROVIDER FORUM Wednesdays Noon-1pm This forum will offer an opportunity for open dialogue about issues and concerns related to the behavioral health needs of families. SmartCare psychiatrist, […]