WHAT IS INTEGRATIVE CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY?

Psychiatry is dominated by the pharmaceutical mindset and often takes a one pill fits most approach. Integrative psychiatry takes a more individualized approach to treating mental illness, behavioral and developmental problems by evaluating for biochemical factors, nutritional deficiencies, genetic variants, physical factors and family dynamics. While medications may be a part of treatment, targeting treatment towards an individual's nutritional or metabolic abnormalities is crucial for long term success. Depending on a patient's history, physical examination and current symptoms, laboratory testing for vitamin and mineral deficiencies, fatty acid imbalances, food sensitivities, gut dysbiosis, organic acid testing and heavy metal testing may be recommended. Her practice combines both nutrition and medicine to treat children with ADHD/ADD, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. She also offers pharmacogenomics testing through AssureRx which is a saliva test that provides information on how a patient’s genetic makeup and prescribed medications for ADHD and/or psychotropics interact to produce therapeutic benefit.

For example, in a patient with ADHD/ADD symptoms, the
MOST IMPORTANT LABORATORY TESTS FOR ADHD INCLUDE:
IgG food allergy testing
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Organic acid testing for dysbiosis
Total cholesterol
Hair metals for both high toxic metals and low essential elements
Essential fatty acid assessment to measure the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES OR INCREASED NEED IN AD(H)D INCLUDE:
Magnesium
Zinc/copper imbalances
Iron
Vitamin B-6
Essential Fatty Acids
Carnitine
Cholesterol