Introduction

All pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists encounter children and young adults with mental and behavioral health concerns. One in five children in the United States suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder. Only 21% of affected children actually receive needed treatment. Anxiety and depression are among the most common conditions that affect children globally, and suicide is the third leading cause of death in adolescents. Treatments for mental health problems are available and efficacious, and pediatricians are often the clinical entry point for patients. This rotation guide provides a basic overview of child and adolescent mental and behavioral health, with an emphasis on diagnosis, management, prognosis, and when to refer a patient to psychiatry.

This guide covers the following major pediatric mental health conditions:

Other relevant topics in Pediatric Mental Health are covered in the following rotation guides:

Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Eating disorders (Adolescent Care)

Charles Wulff, MD, is a child psychiatrist and pediatrician working in consultation-liaison psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an instructor at Harvard Medical School. He is a graduate Brown Universities Triple Board Residency Program, and a member of AACAP’s Lifelong Learning committee.

This rotation guide was developed by a collaborative team of contributors including:
Writers: Aarya Rajalakshmi, MD; Naema Qureshi, MD
Peer Reviewers: Gracia Kwete, MD; Margaret Fallon, MD; Lauren Rubin, MD
Section Expert: Elizabeth Pinsky, MD
Senior Editor: Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD
Last updated: May 2024 by Marguerite Schneider, MD