Overview

Pediatricians and primary care providers (PCPs) are the first-line clinicians for children, adolescents, and young adults. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders within this population is high, with depression, anxiety and ADHD being most common. The morbidity and mortality of these disorders is significant, however they remain under-treated. Given the limitations of referral to specialty care, PCPs are tasked with managing these illnesses. Both in our experience working in a consultation center and based on the literature, PCPs face many barriers to doing so, including limitations in knowledge about and comfort in prescribing psychiatric medications.