Talking About Obesity in the Age of Eating Disorders

A common issue that comes up as parents and clinicians try to help adolescents avoid both eating disorders and obesity is the concern that a conversation about obesity with a child might trigger eating disorder behaviors.  The dilemma leads to a lot of discomfort as to the best way to have this conversation, if at […]

New Option for Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment in Burlington, VT

Spectrum Youth and Family Services announced a new program called Teen Intervention Program for Substance Use (TIPS) that will provide for intake assessment followed by a 26-week treatment program for adolescents with substance abuse problems aged 12-18. The treatment is family-based and uses a motivational and behavioral framework.  Parents need to attend and be involved […]

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Primary Care Phone and Email Consultation Program Begins Second Year

The Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families at FAHC/UVM, in partnership with VCHIP, is pleased to announce we are entering our second year of the Child Psychiatric Phone and Email Consultation Program.  The goal of this program is to provide healthcare providers with curbside phone and email consultation to assist in the management of […]

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Limiting Antipsychotic Medications Shows Long-Term Benefits

The renewed debate surrounding the risk/benefit ratio of using antipsychotic medications for new onset psychotic illness has challenged the traditional recommendation of continued medication treatment for at least one year after remission.  While previous studies have documented an increased rates of relapse among those whose medications are discontinued, this risk is weighed against the potential […]

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Recent Child Mental Health Summit Explores New Ideas

This week, a group of people involved in all aspects of child mental health care in Vermont met in Shelburne to share ideas and visions about how to improve access and quality of behavioral healthcare for Vermont families.  The group included parents of children struggling with emotional behavioral problems, counselors, psychiatrists, primary care clinicians, educators, […]

Documentary Film on Prescription Drug Abuse Premiers at Flynn Sept 27

The Gala Premier of Kingdom County Productions’ new documentary film The Hungry Heart will take place at the Flynn Theater in Burlington, VT on Friday September 27 at 7pm.  The film, directed and produced by Bess O’Brien, explores prescription drug addiction through the intimate world of Vermont Pediatrician Fred Holmes who works with patients struggling […]

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Autism Linked to Maternal Antibodies Reacting to Specific Antigens

While there is quite strong support to view autism as a neurodevelopmental disorder, the precise mechanisms that underlie this spectrum remain elusive.  A research group from the University of California at Davis previously found evidence for autism specific antibodies that were able to recognize fetal proteins.  They now turn to the specific targets or antigens […]