ABCs of Child Psychiatry

Real info about children's mental health

Psych Careers
Psychiatric Nursing Students Can't Find Clinical Training

David Rettew M.D. on April 9, 2026

Students in some psychiatric nurse practitioner training programs are told to find their own clinical training. Often, they can’t, which is bad for the students and their future patients.

Students in some psychiatric nurse practitioner training programs are told to find their own clinical training. Often, they can’t, which is bad for the students and their future patients.

Psychiatry
Are Mental Health Clinic Audits Asking the Wrong Questions?

David Rettew M.D. on October 17, 2025

Regulatory agencies routinely conduct audits of mental health service facilities that focus heavily on easy-to-assess details while missing the big picture. We need to change that.

Regulatory agencies routinely conduct audits of mental health service facilities that focus heavily on easy-to-assess details while missing the big picture. We need to change that.

Psychiatry
The Shifting Rates of Youth Psychiatric Diagnoses

David Rettew M.D. on August 29, 2025

A new study finds some youth psychiatric diagnoses are increasing over time while others are dropping fast. What do all these changing numbers actually mean?

A new study finds some youth psychiatric diagnoses are increasing over time while others are dropping fast. What do all these changing numbers actually mean?

Psychiatry
Being Orderly Is Not OCD

David Rettew M.D. on April 15, 2025

It can offend people when clinical terms are used in a non-clinical context, even if many mental health conditions really do exist on a continuum.

It can offend people when clinical terms are used in a non-clinical context, even if many mental health conditions really do exist on a continuum.

Psychiatry
The New MAHA Commission: Time to Step Forward or Dig In?

David Rettew M.D. on February 24, 2025

It’s clear the new MAHA Commission wants to focus on pediatric mental health. What’s not clear is exactly what that means and how we should best respond.

It’s clear the new MAHA Commission wants to focus on pediatric mental health. What’s not clear is exactly what that means and how we should best respond.

Psychiatry
Supply of Youth Psychiatric Hospital Beds Not Improving

David Rettew M.D. on August 23, 2024

Despite a surging youth mental health crisis, a new study finds that psychiatric hospital beds are in short supply for much of the country and not increasing in number.

Despite a surging youth mental health crisis, a new study finds that psychiatric hospital beds are in short supply for much of the country and not increasing in number.

Psychiatry
Don’t Forget About Vital Signs in Psychiatry Visits

David Rettew M.D. on March 11, 2024

Regular checks of vital signs like pulse, blood pressure, and weight are an important component of psychiatric treatment and shouldn’t be overlooked for the sake of convenience.

Regular checks of vital signs like pulse, blood pressure, and weight are an important component of psychiatric treatment and shouldn’t be overlooked for the sake of convenience.

Psychiatry
Our Biggest Mistakes When Debating Mental Health

David Rettew M.D. on February 2, 2024

The media is full of passionate debate on what drives our mental health. To make these conversations more constructive, it’s time to get past some basic and inaccurate assumptions.

The media is full of passionate debate on what drives our mental health. To make these conversations more constructive, it’s time to get past some basic and inaccurate assumptions.

Psychiatry
Behavioral Health or Mental Health? Which Is It?

David Rettew M.D. on November 15, 2023

People refer both to mental health and behavioral health, but it’s not often clear if different meanings are implied. Here is a brief summary of where we are with these two terms.

People refer both to mental health and behavioral health, but it’s not often clear if different meanings are implied. Here is a brief summary of where we are with these two terms.

Psychiatry
The Outsourcing of Mental Healthcare to the Public Sector

David Rettew M.D. on September 27, 2023

More private healthcare companies are unloading mental health care to the public sector for taxpayers to foot the bill. We shouldn’t be responsible for balancing their budgets.

More private healthcare companies are unloading mental health care to the public sector for taxpayers to foot the bill. We shouldn’t be responsible for balancing their budgets.

Law and Crime
The Mental Illness-Violence Link

David Rettew M.D. on August 30, 2023

One often hears that violence is either entirely driven by mental health issues, or not linked at all. The reality is a little more complex.

One often hears that violence is either entirely driven by mental health issues, or not linked at all. The reality is a little more complex.

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Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

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