Psychiatry

Helping Children and Families With Expert Evaluation and Treatment

Our team includes child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical child psychologists and psychiatric social workers. These professionals work together to evaluate your child's condition and provide a treatment plan to address his or her needs.

The Psychiatry Department at Riley at IU Health offers the following specialty programs to meet a wide range of pediatric and adolescent behavioral health needs:

• Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center. Children with autism spectrum disorder receive care at Riley at IU Health Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center. If your child is struggling with social interactions and communication and other developmental abnormalities, the behavioral health specialists at the Riley Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center at IU Health can help.
• ADHD/Disruptive Behavior Disorders Program. If your child has a persistent, severe pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity, he or she is a candidate for evaluation and treatment at the ADHD/Disruptive Behavior Disorders Program at Riley at IU Health. This program also offers diagnostic and treatment services for children with significant problems of oppositionality, defiance, outbursts, rule breaking and problems controlling anger.
• Mood Disorders Program. If your child is experiencing mood disturbances, such as depression, loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, irritability, social isolation or suicidal ideation, the Mood Disorders Program at Riley at IU Health provides evaluation and care.
• OCD/Tic/Anxiety Disorders Program. The OCD/Tic/Anxiety Disorders Program diagnoses and treats children with any of the following symptoms:
  • Recurrent obsessions or compulsions that are severe enough to impair daily living significantly
  • Recurrent tics, vocal noises or outbursts
  • Apprehension, fearfulness or anxiety
  • Trichotillomania (hair loss from repeated urges to pull or twist the hair until it breaks off)
• Dual Diagnosis Program. If your child has been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and also struggles with substance abuse, the Dual Diagnosis Program at Riley at IU Health can help. This outpatient program is for children and teens 10-18 years old. The program can help your child and family deal with the challenges that come with a combination of psychiatric and behavioral problems.
• Pediatric Psychology Testing Program. The Pediatric Psychology Testing Program offers evaluations consisting of standardized psychological tests for a variety of abilities, disorders and problems, including attention and learning problems, intellectual ability strengths and weaknesses, complex anxiety and mood disorders and other diagnoses.

The psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers at Riley at IU Health offer advanced, evidence-based treatments for psychiatric diagnoses and behavior problems. Treatments include: 

• Individual psychotherapy. Your child works one-on-one with a therapist to learn coping strategies, build skills and address challenges in feelings, beliefs and behaviors, helping him or her to move toward desired changes.
• Family therapy. The therapist works with you and your child to change family interactions and structure in order to improve your child’s behavior and adjustment.
• Pharmacotherapy. Your child may need treatment using medicines that can help regulate brain-based psychological and behavioral problems.
• Behavioral modification. The therapist works with you and your child on specific behavioral goals and the situations or consequences that maintain or change them.

Research and the advancement of psychiatric practice is an essential part of the Psychiatry Department at Riley at IU Health. The department is integrated with the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), and our psychologists and psychiatrists are IUSM faculty members. The IUSM is one of the largest medical schools in the U.S., which gives us the opportunity to be part of innovative research in psychiatric disorders.

Faculty members in the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry have made important research discoveries and contributed significantly to the understanding of psychiatric disorders, including addictions, ADHD, mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and autism.

We continue to lead in groundbreaking clinical research. We have active research projects supported by the National Institutes of Health and other sources. Faculty members in the IUSM Department of Psychiatry also have a record of successful partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry for testing and refinement of new medicine treatments.