Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently have comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. However, there have been no practice guidelines to aid clinicians in treating ADHD symptoms in children with ASD.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a family of neurodevelopmental disorders made up of autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. While the pathophysiology behind these disorders remains largely unknown, each shares a specific constellation of symptoms including impaired communication, diminished social skills, and unusual behaviors or interests.

Any psychiatrist will tell you that comorbidity in mental health is the norm. Comorbidity between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) is no exception.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes errors make it into the final newsletter. We’d like to thank Dr. Jonathan Gamze for pointing out the following errors in Volume 3, Number 5 (Substance Abuse, November 2012).

Dr. Mandell discusses the strategies and approaches that have an evidence base for working with autism, the impact autism has on families and the importance of inclusion.

In advance of the official release of DSM-5 this May, the field trial data has been reported in three papers in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

After reading these articles, you should be able to…

Bipolar disorder presents unique pharmacologic challenges. Those treating children or adolescents with bipolar disorder face the additional challenge of having far less information to inform their treatment decisions.

The diagnosis, treatment, and very existence of pediatric bipolar disorder is one of the most contentious debates in our field.