Welcome to the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Weight Management Clinic!
Pediatric weight problems are often complicated by behavioral, psychological and social challenges. The combination of these can make management of chronic obesity-related conditions like diabetes extremely challenging. Many psychiatric conditions, like depression, anxiety, binge eating disorder, and many others can lead to weight problems over time if they remain unrecognized or untreated.
Conversely, many psychotropic medications, like mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and some antidepressants can exacerbate weight gain. This can seem like a no-win situation for providers, families and youth who are struggling to manage weight in the setting of psychiatric or psychological problems.
In the Weight Management Clinic, we provide thorough psychiatric evaluation to accurately diagnose and optimally treat psychiatric conditions that complicate the management of weight and related conditions, like diabetes. We also provide a family-centered, psychologically sensitive behavioral approach to consolidate healthier behaviors and improve overall health outcomes. As part of this process, patients will be seen for an initial consultation by a Child Psychiatrist and may have an additional 4-6 visits over a period of 3-6 months to initiate treatment and stabilize symptoms. At the end of this enhanced consultation and treatment period, the Psychiatrist will discuss their impression and treatment plan recommendations with the Referring Provider via phone or email, and will be available in an ongoing way to help them manage their patients over time.
Here’s how the process works:
Once you determine that a patient is a good candidate for the Weight Management Clinic, you will complete the Consult Form. This form can be found on our website at http://wuchild.wustl.edu
. Please be sure to provide us with as much information as possible, including a face sheet of the patient’s demographic and insurance information, and fax to us at (314-286-1799). A psychiatrist will review the consult, and if there are any questions we will contact you directly either by phone or letter. Once the consult has been accepted, we will contact the patient to schedule an appointment.
The patient will be traveling to Washington University’s Medical school campus for the appointment. They will be sent a packet of information to complete prior to their appointment.
We welcome your participation in this clinic and look forward to creating a great working relationship and strong collaboration. If you have any questions about the nature of our clinic, please feel free to contact our clinic at 314-286-1700 or email wuchild@psychiatry.wustl.edu
Sincerely,
Ginger E. Nicol, MD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry (Child)
Co-Director, Outpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic
Washington University Department of Psychiatry