Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians

Epizode

• 78. Are Youth Athletes Burning Out? 2 Questions To Ask at Every Sports Physical with Dr. Joel Brenner (Summer Replay)) 30.06.2026 26min

  Send us Fan Mail Summer sports physical season is here! Before you sign that next pre-participation physical, are you asking the questions that could help prevent burnout, overuse injuries, and early sports dropout? In this timely replay, pediatric sports medicine expert Dr. Joel Brenner shares practical, evidence-based strategies to help young athletes stay healthy—and stay in the game. Learn why early sports specialization may do more harm than good, how much rest young athletes reall...
• 77. ADHD Unlocked: Earn CME Credit 16.06.2026 11min

  Send us Fan Mail Would you be surprised to learn that there has been a MAJOR INCREASE in child mental health visits in primary care? A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found clinically significant increases in child mental health visits over a 10-year period. While ADHD remained the most common MH concern, ANXIETY visits rose by 300% from 2014-2023. We know that it can be challenging and sometimes nearly impossible to connect these children and families with speci...
• 76. 5 Things That Will CHANGE Your Practice 09.06.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail Dr. Elise Fallucco reviews five practice-changing lessons from the previous season of Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians: 1 - Ask better questions For example, use Dr. Waxmonsky’s ADHD assessment prompt, “When is the hardest time of day, and what is going on there?” to guide ADHD medication choice2 - Look for the problem behind the problem Ask teens about energy drinks/caffeine and sleep timing, recognizing energy drink use may signal sleep deprivati...
• 75. Beyond the Buzz: Energy Drinks, Teen Health, and Safer Ways to Stay Energized with Roshni Patel 02.06.2026 22min

  Send us Fan Mail Highly caffeinated energy drinks are taking the teenage world by storm! While the AAP (Peds) says that these beverages are NOT safe, a growing number of kids and teens use them. To help us learn the latest about the health risks, join this conversation with Registered Dietitian, Roshni Patel! We talk about: What is really INSIDE these eye-catching, bright, metallic cans?Hint: potentially toxic amounts of caffeine plus sugar What are risks for teens?What are HEALTH...
• 74. Burnout in Healthcare: "The Pitt", Stats, and Solutions! 13.05.2026 13min

  Send us Fan Mail Let's talk about clinician wellbeing and burnout... In this episode, Dr. Elise Fallucco shares results from the recent AMA national survey about physician and APP burnout, and then shifts to talk about the portrayal of burnout and boundaries in a scene from HBO's "The Pitt". She shared resources to address SYSTEMIC issues that contribute to burnout - The AMA's “Saving Time Playbook” found at: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/sustainability/savin...
• 73. ADHD Clinical Pearls: Measuring what matters with Dr. James Waxmonsky 28.04.2026 15min

  Send us Fan Mail Three Clinical Pearls for Evaluating and Treating ADHD Dr. Elise Fallucco chats with Dr. James Waxmonsky (Chair of Child Psychiatry at Penn State) about practical strategies to evaluate and treat children and teens with ADHD. Clinical Pearl #1 - Ask Patients about their biggest Challenge and define their Goals, Set Relevant Finish Lines Dr. Waxmonsky emphasizes starting with family- and patient-defined functional goals rather than symptom scores, Keep in Mind...
• 72. Can we develop Tolerance to stimulants? with Dr. James Waxmonsky 21.04.2026 22min

  Send us Fan Mail Does our brain adapt to stimulant medication over time, develop tolerance, so that we require higher doses to achieve the same effect? When patients tell us their stimulant doesn't seem as helpful (after working well for a while), could this be tolerance? ... or could it be something else? To answer these questions, Dr. Elise Fallucco chats with Dr. James Waxmonsky, co-PI for NIMH-funded study: Examining Tolerance to CNS Stimulants in ADHD. 00:00 Introduction of ...
• 71. ADHD stimulants do NOT impact the brain's attention networks?!?! with Dr. Nico Dosenbach 07.04.2026 24min

  Send us Fan Mail Bench to Bedside: How ADHD Stimulants Really Work—Arousal and Reward, Not Attention Networks Dr. Elise Fallucco launches a new “Bench to Bedside” series and interviews Dr. Nico Dosenbach, senior author of a ground-breaking fMRI study published in CELL that found that stimulants do NOT significantly change the brain’s attention networks!?!?! Instead, effects are strongest in arousal (less drowsy, more wide awake) and reward/motivation systems (increasing pred...
• 70. Anxiety that has failed 2 SSRIs: How to switch and which med to choose next with Dr. Strawn 31.03.2026 16min

  Send us Fan Mail SSRI Switching in Pediatrics: When to Try a Third SSRI, When to Use Luvox, and Key Metabolism Pearls Dr. Elise Fallucco continues her discussion with child psychiatrist Dr. Jeffrey Strawn (University of Cincinnati; co-author of Stahl’s DePrescribing) on practical tips regarding how to stop/decrease an SSRI and switch to another SSRI (or SNRI) for pediatric anxiety. Highlights from the Episode: After trying 2 different SSRIs for pediatric anxiety, in most cases, it makes...
• 69. How to Switch SSRIs with Dr. Jeffrey Strawn 24.03.2026 19min

  Send us Fan Mail 3 Ways to Switch SSRIs in Kids: Direct Switch vs Taper vs Cross-Titration Dr. Elise Fallucco continues a conversation with child psychiatrist and anxiety GURU Dr. Jeffrey Strawn about evidence-informed ways to switch SSRIs in pediatric patients when an adequate trial hasn’t led to remission. They review 3 strategies: 1. direct stop/start a. Stop SSRI#1 then start SSRI#2: best for patients with side effects on the 1st SSRI, but creates a g...
• 68. Deprescribing - The Science and Art of Stopping Medication with Dr. Jeffrey Strawn 03.03.2026 17min

  Send us Fan Mail What is the safest, most effective way to taper or stop psychotropic meds in children and teens? Dr. Elise Fallucco kicks off a new Deprescribing series with guest Dr. Jeffrey Strawn, coauthor of Stahl’s Deprescriber’s Guide. They discuss how clinicians and patients “deprescribe” in real life, and what can happen when tapering off or abruptly stopping medication including: how to distinguish discontinuation (withdrawal) from relapse Focus on timi...
• 67. From Screen Addiction to Sextortion: Your Guide to Digital Safety with Tech Insider Ashley 24.02.2026 18min

  Send us Fan Mail On Part 3 of our Series on Tech and Child Mental Health, Dr. Elise Fallucco continues her conversation with Ashley (Tech Insider, Senior Manager of Global Risk Assessment at Twitch) about: "Screen addiction" How to talk with kids and teens about online privacy and potential dangers like groomers and sextortion in an age-appropriate way Go-to resources for families navigating the digital world like The Family IT Guy on Social Media and online App/game...
• 66. Keeping Kids Safer Online with Tech-Insider Ashley: Parental Controls, Hidden App Risks, and Tech Alternatives to Smartphones 17.02.2026 20min

  Send us Fan Mail How can parents set real boundaries around kids’ screen use when every app has different settings—and kids can get around them? In part two of this tech safety series, Dr. Elise Fallucco continues her conversation with tech trust-and-safety insider (and mom) Ashley, senior manager of global risk assessment at Twitch. They break down why parents need to set parental controls inside each individual app (not just on the device), what to watch for in hidden or unexpected features...
• 65. Digital Dangers: Tips from a Tech Insider 10.02.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail Just when you thought it was safe to let kids play online... a Tech Insider shares surprising information about online/digital safety. Dr. Fallucco chats with a seasoned professional in the trust and safety field about... How to balance the benefits of technology while minimizing RISKS like exposure to violence, cyberbullying, and grooming. How to set up a Child Tech contract - that defines WHEN a child can use technology, WHERE they can use it, and HOW they can us...
• 64. Mystery Case: 12yo ADHD "acts like she is on speed" 03.02.2026 21min

  Send us Fan Mail Let's kick off the new year with a NEW Mystery Case! Dr. Elise Fallucco works through the case of a 12-year-old girl with ADHD and a family history of bipolar. After starting a new stimulant medication, the patient exhibits what seems like 'super ADHD.' Could this be a medication side effect, emerging bipolar, or something else? Dr. Fallucco guides you through a detailed differential diagnosis, exploring possible causes and solutions. Tune in to discover effective strategies ...
• 63. Top 3 Things I Learned in 2025 23.12.2025 14min

  Send us Fan Mail Dr. Elise Fallucco reviews the highlights from 2025 and the TOP THREE things she learned about Child Mental Health from 2025 podcast episodes. Celebrate surpassing 50 episodes, explore exciting new episode formats like 'mystery cases,' and gain insights from impactful discussions with parents about ADHD and anxiety in children. Tune in for excerpts from some of the most memorable episodes, including from the MOST downloaded episode of the year! 00:00 Introduction ...
• 62. Letting Go of Perfect: Finding Joy this Holiday Season 11.12.2025 15min

  Send us Fan Mail As a recovering perfectionist, Dr. Elise Fallucco shares insights ad strategies, for combating perfectionism, especially during the holiday season. Do YOU have some unrealistic expectations for yourself? Do you want permission to take some pressure off so that you can enJOY the holiday season? If so, take a listen! 0:00 Letting Go of Perfect 01:02 Defining Perfectionism 02:32 Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Perfectionism 03:34 Self-Critical 05:05 Consequences of Perfe...
• 61. ADHD + Anxiety: Rapid Review of Medication treatment 02.12.2025 16min

  Send us Fan Mail Navigating Treatment for ADHD and Anxiety in Kids Ever wondered which to treat first in kids who have both ADHD and anxiety? Dr. Elise Fallucco, child psychiatrist, tackles this common dilemma in the latest episode of Child Mental Health for Pediatric Clinicians. She shares fresh insights and data, stressing the importance of starting with stimulant medication for ADHD. Dr. Elise also discusses medication types, dosages, and the rationale behind her treatment choices, while a...
• 60. Cannabis and Teen Mental Health: 3 Things You Should Know 12.11.2025 9min

  Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of CANNABIS and its impact on the developing teen brain and MENTAL HEALTH. Dr. Fallucco discusses the latest research on THC and CBD, revealing how modern cannabis has become significantly more potent. Learn about the risks associated with adolescent cannabis use, such as impaired prefrontal cortex development, increased anxiety risk, and associations with psychosis. Dr. Fallucco also offers practical tips for clinician...
• 59. PMDD: How Hormones Can Affect Teenage Girls with Laurina 28.10.2025 21min

  Send us Fan Mail Dr. Elise Fallucco welcomes Laurina, a pediatric nurse practitioner and mom of four. Laurina shares her experience parenting her teenage daughter, Beth, who has ADHD and anxiety. The discussion covers Beth's initial symptoms, her treatment journey and the discovery of Beth's premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Laurina offers insights on tracking symptoms and treatment options, providing valuable advice for clinicians and parents alike. Tune in to learn about managing ADHD...