Psychiatrist recommendation for a depressed teen

[Anonymous]

Need a recommendation for a psychiatrist in Montgomery county who is conservative with meds, is respectful and considerate of patient and parent comcerns, and open to digging for factors such as diet and nutritional and hormonal factors in depression and treating accordingly. Basically intelligent and not dismissive doctor who is nuanced and respectful and doesn't push meds like candy. Also someone willing to wean off meds when they are no longer needs.

[Anonymous]

The most prominent psychiatrist around here is Daniel Pine, who is at the Ross Center and at NIH. I'm not sure if he's taking new patients, but there are other psychiatrists at the Ross Center who are also good. Here is a list of some others: http://www.bethesdapediatrics.com/referrals/psychiatry

Be aware that most psychiatrists do not take insurance. And IME, the few who do are not the ones who will carefully walk you through this process. The first appointment should be 60-90 minutes and should include time with your DC alone, parents alone and everyone together.

It seems that you have a strong bias against medication. The evidenced-based treatment for moderate/severe depression is a combination of CBT and meds. Most people start with therapy alone first. There can be other factors (such as BCP for girls which can regulate hormones and may help), exercise is particularly important, but a good psychiatrist will help you look at your child's level of functioning to see how aggressively the depression needs to be treated.

Medication can be life changing. My DC went from being almost non-functional - not leaving the house, barely even getting out of bed - back to almost normal life, working, going to school, having friends. Depression is something DC will always struggle with, but before the meds, DC was not able to engage in therapy or exercise or any of the things that also help. Sometimes the meds lift the cloud enough for the child to be able to start helping him/herself.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with the PP. We worked with Dr. Pine as part of an NIH study and he was fabulous. I also agree that you seem to have a medication bias. I hope you don't communicate that to your child. There was a period of about a year that my DS couldn't function without Prozac. He's been off of it for several years but there's no way I'd make him feel bad for using it again if needed. My DH spent years cycling in/out of depression until finally accepting there's no shame in needing it all the time. His brain chemistry is different and no amount of diet/nutrition that can conquer his depression. All our lives are better when he stays on an effective medicine.

[Anonymous]

OP - try Dr. Gonzalo Laje. My DD has depression and meds are not recommended for her. (i am not anti- meds and have a son on ADHD medication).

[Anonymous]

Dr. Nora Galil in Chevy Chase (DC) does extensive blood and stool workups to look for nutritional/absorption issues. She also prescribes medication conservatively, in my opinion. She has been fantastic in her communication with my DC. She is expensive, but worth it. I highly recommend. She was originally referred to us by our pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

11:56 again - I've found that Dr. Galil is very easy to make an appointment with; there isn't a long wait. Her appointments are always during the day; the latest might be 3:00.

[Anonymous]

You will never get an appointment with pine. Been on waitlists for YEARS.

Laje's arrogant but you may actually get an appointment.

Get your kid a neuropsych evaluation if you haven't done so already so you make sure you're treating the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. How will neuropsych evaluation help? Her psychologist (she is in counseling fairly rece,tly) tested her and diagnosed her with anxiety, depression, and oppositional disorder. Things have been deteriorating for a awhile and I have no doubt that diag,isis is right, in her normal healthy state she is a normal person, gifted but I know that and don't need diag,isis for that..... l had this evaluation for my son who always had school problems and he was diagnosed with add

[Anonymous]

You are going to have to go the functional medicine route in parallel to the MD route.

I had a variety of functional medicine tests that were helpful, iincluding a hair metal test that revealed no measurable amount of trace lithium (a mineral that is obviously enormously critical to mental health).

Magnesium might be a very helpful supplement for your kid, too.

[Anonymous]

David Driver is excellent