ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD/ADD)
ADHD is a life-long disorder. When untreated, ADHD symptoms can impact a child’s academic performance, social development and create a tremendous amount of stress for families. Children are often mislabeled as lazy or manipulative, but with the proper supports at home and school, they can excel and accomplish amazing things.
Adults with ADHD may struggle at work, have relationship instability and often have difficulty being diagnosed and treated appropriately. Dr. Rosen specializes in diagnosing and treating ADHD in children and adults. Treatment options include medication, organizational skills and therapy.
OCD (OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER)
OCD is an anxiety disorder in which patients are plagued with unwanted, intrusive thoughts (such as worries about harm coming to themselves or others, worries about contamination) and ritualized behaviors that must be completed in order to relieve anxiety and distress. OCD can be debilitating—rituals can take hours a day to complete and can interfere with school, work or social life. The symptoms can be demoralizing and lead to depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy and medication can reduce symptoms tremendously. Dr. Rosen is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of OCD with medication and therapy.
DEPRESSION
Depression is a serious and life-threatening illness. Depressive symptoms may manifest differently in younger children than in teens and adults. Young children may still have fun when they play, but may be more irritable and withdrawn. Disruptive behaviors at school or at home can often be misinterpreted as acting out when they are really a sign that your child is struggling with depression. Parents may struggle to distinguish normal teenage angst from more serious mood symptoms. If your child is experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-injurious behaviors, please seek professional help. Many types of therapy and medication have proven to be helpful for depression. Dr. Rosen is an expert in the treatment of depression.
ANXIETY
Anxiety can manifest itself differently in children and adults. Young children may suffer from separation anxiety--normal and developmentally appropriate separations for child care or school can trigger significant anxiety. With appropriate guidance, parents can help their children to become more independent and less anxious.
Selective mutism is another type of anxiety disorder in which children communicate normally at home with immediate family members but do not speak to teachers, peers or in other unfamiliar settings. This behavior is often dismissed as "being shy" but can have significant impact on a child's social-emotional development and may be a precursor to onset of other anxiety problems later in life. Teens and adults struggle with panic attacks and generalized anxiety.
Despite the significant distress that anxiety can cause, anxious individuals are often high achieving, successful and resilient people. Dr. Rosen is an expert in the treatment of anxiety and can help decrease distress with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and medication when appropriate.
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS
Is your child talking back, hitting, flying into a rage over minor disappointments? Is getting them to do their homework or their chores a constant source of conflict? Many different problems can manifest themselves with behavioral problems,. It is important to seek out expert help as there is no one size fits all solution. Behavioral problems can be symptoms of underlying illness, such as depression, anxiety or ADHD, or may be related to bullying, abuse or other social problems. Dr. Rosen will perform a thorough psychiatric evaluation and consider all aspects of your child's development. She will work with you to create a treatment plan and bring calm back to your home.
TOURETTE'S DISORDER
Tourette’s Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by vocal and motor tics-involuntary movements or sounds. Tics can be very disruptive, cause physical pain, and impact negatively on a child’s self-esteem. Tourette’s Disorder is often accompanied by other conditions, such as ADHD and OCD. The treatment of Tourette’s Disorder is especially challenging, as these comorbid conditions can frequently cause more distress than tics, and must be considered to effectively treat Tourette’s. Dr. Rosen has extensive experience treating patients with Tourette Disorder. She is trained in CBIT, Cognitive Behavioral intervention for Tics, the first-line treatment for Tourette’s Disorder and is also an expert in psychopharmacology of TS and co-occurring conditions.
REPRODUCTIVE PSYCHIATRY
Postpartum depression is the most common obstetric complication of pregnancy. 1 in 4 new mothers may struggle with mood or anxiety problems. Dr. Rosen is an expert in treating women’s mental health before, during and after pregnancy. She is available for pre-conception consultations and can help women weigh the risks of continuing medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Reproductive psychiatry is an emerging field, and we are becoming increasingly aware of the negative effects that untreated depression and anxiety can have on pregnancy. Depressed mothers are at risk for pre-term delivery, low birth weight and may struggle to care appropriately for their children. If you are struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety, please seek help. Dr. Rosen closely follows emerging research in the field, and can skillfully combine therapy and medication.
PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATIONS FOR UFT MEMBERS
Dr. Rosen has partnered with the United Federation of Teachers to offer complementary evaluations and short term treatment to UFT members through the member assistance program. For referral, please contact the member assistance program at 212-701-9620.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS
Marijuana, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Vaping and Pills
Substance use in teens is challenging to treat because so many view experimenting with drugs and alcohols as a teenage rite of passage. Teens may try marijuana or other substances to "fit in" and quickly find their use increasing and impacting their functioning at home or at school. Marijuana can affect the developing adolescent brain and predispose teens to more serious mental illness later in life. Teens often self-medicate with drugs to deal with problems with mood, ADHD or anxiety. If you suspect your child is abusing drugs, please seek help. It may be more than just experimentation, and untreated substance abuse can destroy a young person's future.
