The Guest Editors have assembled expert authors to cover the full clinical span of the topic autism and autism spectrum disorders. An historical perspective of the evolution of the disorder opens the issue. Next, comprehensive coverage is given to an article on the definitions, diagnostic criteria, and clinical features of autism spectrum disorders. Other articles in the issue cover the relevant topics like epidemiology, genetic syndromes and genetic testing, early diagnosis and diagnostic evaluation, and neuroimaging and neurochemistry of autism. Authors also present information on tsocial skills for the autistic child, behavioral interventions, and transitioning the autistic child into adulthood, to name a few. This issue should be very well received by pediatricians.

Psychodermatology is a relatively new field in evolution and thus, there is a comparative paucity of information in general. However, when it comes to children and adolescents there is a complete vacuum of information as no other book has aimed to specifically address the psychodermatological issues facing this particular population. For assessment, diagnosis, comprehensive treatment of children with psychodermatologic conditions and establishing a relationship between skin and psyche, there is a lack of clear and relevant clinical information about these complex disorders. The complexity of these disorders is related to lack of understanding in genetic, embryonic, physiologic, neuroimmunologic, neurocutaneous, stress-related neuromodulation, and psychosomatic interconnections. This book presents a clinically relevant approach to the management of psychodermatologic issues encountered in normal practice. Various classifications and major categories that are discussed include psychophysiologic disorders, psychiatric conditions with dermatologic manifestations, dermatologic disorders predisposing to psychiatric disorders, systemic diseases with psychodermatological manifestations, and special issues in management of psychocutaneous disorders in children and adolescents.

Primary care clinicians are called on to care for adolescents in a time with increasing pharmacologic agents that are available in the management of these patients. The emphasis in this book is on the current pharmacologic treatment of common medical disorders in adolescents. Selected topics of practical relevance in adolescent medicine are covered. The goal of this book is to provide a succinct and practical guide specifically written for practicing physicians and allied health professionals who work with adolescents.

Primary care clinicians are called on to care for adolescents in a time with increasing pharmacologic agents that are available in the management of these patients. The emphasis in this book is on the current pharmacologic treatment of common medical disorders in adolescents. Selected topics of practical relevance in adolescent medicine are covered. The goal of this book is to provide a succinct and practical guide specifically written for practicing physicians and allied health professionals who work with adolescents.

The abuse of drugs and chemicals has become a problematic public health dilemma for the world's population and one that must be dealt with by parents, societies, clinicians, researchers, and even countries in the world. This book discusses the complex neurobiology that underlies drug addiction and reveals how these illicit chemicals disrupt central nervous system neurotransmission involving such neurotransmitters as serotonin, dopamine, and others. This manual reviews current understanding in drug interactions with neurotransmitter systems, neuroimmune signaling, current research on reward circuitry, and current medications used to treat drug addiction. It also discusses related topics such as drug addiction in females, co-morbid conditions, drug addiction in minority populations, prenatal drug exposure and others. The book covers new drugs of the 21st century and discusses such controversial topics as legalization of drug use. It also provides internet resources, treatment facilities by state, and parent support organizations. The importance of prevention of drug abuse is a key theme of the book.

Increasingly more and more children with developmental disabilities survive into adulthood. Pediatricians and other clinicians are called upon to care for an increasing number of children with developmental disabilities in their practice and thus there is a need for a practical guide specifically written for paediatricians and primary care clinicians that addresses major concepts of neurodevelopmental pediatrics. In the United States, the specialty training leading to a conjoint board certification by the American Board of Pediatrics and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, requires a total of 6 years of training (2 years of pediatrics, 1 year of neurology, 18 months of child neurology, 18 months of neurodevelopmental disabilities). As of December 2006, in the US, there were 241 pediatricians and 55 child neurologists certified in the subspecialty of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Thus most of the children with developmental disabilities are seen by pediatricians and therefore it is important for these pediatricians to be well informed of common issues in the field. The 60,000 or so pediatricians in the United States (and hundreds more in other countries) are the main target audience for a practical book on neurodevelopmental pediatrics.

Pediatric and Adolescent Psychopharmacology is reviewed in this issue of Pediatric Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Dilip Patel, Donald Greydanus, and Cynthia Feucht. Authorities in the field have come together to pen articles on Therapy in the Age of Pharmacology: Point-Counterpoint, Principles of Pharmacology and Neurotransmission, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Pediatric Mental Health, Psychopharmacology of Anxiety Disorders, Psychopharmacologic Control of Aggression and Violence, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Psychopharmacology of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa, Psychopharmacology of Obesity, Psychopharmacology of Depression, Psychopharmacology of Pediatric Bipolar Disorders, Cognitive-Adaptive Disabilities, Psychopharmacology of Schizophrenia, Management of Psychotic States Induced by Medical Conditions, Substance Use and Abuse, Psychopharmacology of Tic Disorders, and Pharmacology of Sleep Disorders.

This issue of Pediatric Clinics, guest edited by Drs. Dilip Patel and Donald Greydanus, examines the topic of Adolescents and Sports. Authorities in the field have come together to pen articles on Pre-participation evaluation, Cardiovascular evaluation of young athletes, Medical conditions and sport participation, Management of the adolescent athlete with type 1 diabetes mellitus, Musculoskeletal conditions and sports participation, Stress fractures: Diagnosis and management, Computer-based neuropsychological evaluation of concussion, The female athlete, Doping: From drugs and supplements to genetics, Analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications in sports, Nutritional considerations for adolescent athletes, Resistance training guidelines for adolescents, Application of osteopathic manual medicine to treat sports injuries, and Physically and cognitively challenged athletes.

The search for medicinal agents to improve emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric conditions of Homo sapiens has occurred for ages. The 20th century witnessed the development of psychopharmacologic agents, including stimulants in the 1930s (and 1950s), chlorpromazine in the 1950s, lithium, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, SSRIs (1990s), and others. The proper use of these agents in the pediatric population continues to be an active study. Atypical antipsychotics have been approved by the FDA for children and adolescents though their safety and efficacy in the pediatric population but must be assiduously ascertained with ongoing research in the eternal iatric maxim of primum non nocere. The science of evidence-based pharmacotherapy for mental health disorders in children and adolescents is finally emerging. Exciting discoveries await the researchers of this still early 21st century lead by the crucial collaborative efforts of academicians, pharmaceutical scientists, and medical government authorities. Controversies regarding the use of various psychopharmacologic agents for the pediatric population continue in the 21st century, requiring further research and insightful judgment for its applications in this vulnerable population. Excessive and unnecessary psychopharmacologic agents should be avoided in the pediatric population with behavioral/emotional/psychiatric conditions/disorders. In this second edition, the authors present updated information about psychopharmacology in childhood and adolescence.

This book is designed to provide primary care clinicians with a practical guide to the significant problems that increasingly affect the emotional health of children and adolescents. This book is written in clear, concise language by experts in developmental-behavioral pediatrics, neurodevelopmental pediatrics, adolescent medicine, psychology, and child/adolescent psychiatry. We present a comprehensive coverage of normal and pathological behaviors based on principles of child and adolescent development. The editors are nationally and internationally known experts and educators in the normal and abnormal behavior of children and youth. With the information available in this book, clinicians who care for children and adolescents will be better equipped to meet the complex needs of this fascinating and ever-changing population.

Intellectual disability is characterised by deficits in cognitive and adaptive abilities that initially manifest before 18 years of age. The prevalence of intellectual disability is estimated to be between 1 and 3 out of every 100 individuals in the general population. Most individuals have mild intellectual disability and the cause is generally not identified. A small percentage of individuals have severe deficits and will need lifetime supports. The diagnosis of intellectual disability requires formal psychometric testing to assess the intelligence quotient and adaptive functioning. The management of individuals who have intellectual disability is based on providing general medical care, treatment of specific behavioral symptoms, early intervention, special education, and variable degrees of community based supports. In this book we present some current issues in intellectual and developmental disability.

Tropical medicine is a branch of medicine focusing on disorders usually found in subtropical and tropical areas of the world, while tropical paediatrics is a branch of tropical medicine focusing on children in these areas. The current process of global warming and the widespread issue of international travel are bringing these conditions to many places of the globe. This second revised and enlarged edition highlights selective concepts of tropical paediatrics that are of importance to clinicians caring for children and adolescents. It is dedicated to clinicians around the world who care for these precious patients growing up in remote corners of globe. It should always be remembered that sometimes these issues become important to developed corners of the world as well.

This updated and revised second edition on substance abuse in adolescents and young adults provides information on this global public health topic. We cover a wide variety of subjects within the paradigm of drug abuse and agree with the 21st century message of integrating substance abuse management with primary care services. The editors thank the many experts who so graciously and lambently provided their time and knowledge in these areas. The editors hope that the readers of this treatise find useful and beneficial information that will help them in their work seeking to understand and ameliorate the negative effects of these plants of paradise and of other chemicals that are part of the drug addiction pharmacopeia of the 21st century. The science of this field continues to evolve and this edition looks at a wide variety of concepts in this regard----including neurobiology, genetics, the role of the primary care clinicians, the US opioid epidemic, and psychosocial management. Specific drugs of abuse include tobacco, cannabis, alcohol, opioids, prescription drugs, illicit stimulant drug abuse, hallucinogens, and date rape drugs. We also look at concepts related to prenatal drug exposure, substance abuse in adolescent females, co-occurring substance use with psychiatric disorders, prescription stimulant abuse in college students, and performance enhancing drugs in sports. We conclude with a consideration of new drugs of abuse in the 21st century, the societal burden of substance abuse, and the pros as well as cons of drug legalization.

Current research indicates that up to ten percent of children suffer from mental health problems at some point before reaching adulthood. Complex diagnostic criteria and medication regimes can make these patients a challenge to manage. The chronic shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists has led to more and more cases being cared for by pediatricians and primary care practitioners. Patients may be on multiple medications of long duration, and reaching a decision to modify or cease treatment is often complicated.
Pediatric and Adolescent Psychopharmacology: A Practical Manual for Pediatricians is written for all non-psychiatrists who find themselves caring for children and teenagers with mental health disorders. It gives clear, expert guidance on the complexities of diagnosis of mental health disorders and provides practical, accessible advice on the complex treatment options available for many disorders. This text will be an invaluable resource for all clinicians who encounter these vulnerable patients.

Tropical medicine is a branch of medicine focusing on disorders usually found in subtropical and tropical areas of the world. Tropical paediatrics is a branch of tropical medicine focusing on children in these areas. The current process of global warming and the widespread issue of international travel are bringing these conditions to many places of the globe. This book highlights selective concepts of tropical paediatrics that are of importance to clinicians caring for children and adolescents.

Sports participation by adolescents is considered a rite of passage in Western society. Adolescents participate in sports for many reasons. Most play sports for fun. Other reasons include, personal motivation, enhance fitness, socialisation, economic benefits, status symbol, parental or societal pressures, and media influence. Approximately 40 million children and adolescents participate in organised sports in the United States alone and many more world-wide. Many start at a very young age, as young as three years and specialise in a single sport with intensive participation, spending many hours in practices, games, and travel. In some cases this level of commitment to sports, whether a personal choice or because of societal or parental pressure, can lead to social isolation, burnout, and adverse impact on normal psychosocial development. Sport participation experience can be positive or negative depending up on the motivation, goals, and expectations of the adolescent, his or her parents or other adults in life, and the society at large. Many adolescents quit or are left out of participating in sports. The potential benefits of sport participation by adolescents include improve self-esteem, enhanced personal coping abilities, enhanced social competence, and fostering teamwork and healthy competitiveness. In addition to many psychosocial and developmental benefits of healthy sports participation, it can have life-long positive impact in prevention and control of major diseases that have enormous personal and public health implications. In this book the editors have explored selected topics to exemplify some of the many facets of sport participation by adolescents that have implications for individual and public health.

The prevalence of chronic illness or disability in adolescence has increased in recent years due to medical advances, and adolescents are now more than ever able to lead a productive life even in spite of serious illness. In the past, children with many diseases would not reach adolescence, but over the last decade or more the survival rate for children with cystic fibrosis, for spina bifida and congenital heart disease has increased. The old morbidity (infectious disease, poor housing, poverty, lack of immunisation) has been exchanged with the new morbidity of adolescence, where a longer life expectancy is followed by an increase in life-long disability. The concern in chronic illness include medical, psychological, physiological, biological, reproductive, cognitive and social aspects. Practitioners of the healing arts must become familiar with the most common disabilities likely to afflict children and adolescents so that appropriate evaluation, treatment, and management may occur. This book will cover a broad area of chronic illness in adolescence written by leading experts in this field.