Conditions We Do and Do Not Treat

We specialize in caring for children and teens who have these conditions:

• Anxiety and related disorders
  • Children age 5 to 18 who have anxiety disorders such as separation anxiety, selective mutism, social anxiety, school refusal, panic disorder and specific phobias are seen in our Mood and Anxiety Program.
  • In addition, our Mood and Anxiety program treats obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions including trichotillomania, excoriation disorder and tic disorders including Tourette syndrome.
  • We also treat children age 5 to 18 who have mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder as well as eating disorders, gender concerns and psychotic disorders.
  • Those age 4 or younger are seen in our Early Childhood Clinic.
  • Read about anxiety disorders (PDF) (Spanish).

   

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Children ages 4 or younger with possible ADHD or other problems with learning, attention and behavior are seen in our Early Childhood Clinic.
  • Those ages 5 to 18 with possible ADHD or related conditions are seen in our Program to Enhance Attention, Regulation and Learning (PEARL). (PEARL is not for children who have learning disabilities without ADHD; instead, talk with your child’s school about a special-education evaluation or services that might help.)
• Autism spectrum disorders

  Seattle Children’s Autism Center provides comprehensive care, including psychiatry and behavioral medicine, for children with autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.

• Behavior problems
  • Children ages 4 or younger with disruptive behavior are seen in our Early Childhood Clinic.
  • Those ages 5 to 17 with disruptive behavior are seen in our Behavior and Attention Management Program. 
• Depression, bipolar disorder and related mood disorders
  • Children age 4 or younger are seen in our Early Childhood Clinic.
  • Those age 5 to 18 are seen in our Mood and Anxiety Program.
  • Read about depression.
• Eating disorders

  Our team works closely with other experts in the Eating Disorders Recovery Program to make sure your child receives complete care.

• Gender

  Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine experts are part of the team providing compassionate, gender-affirming care in our Gender Clinic for adolescents and young adults: 

  • Whose gender identity is different from their sex at birth
  • Who do not identify with traditional definitions of male or female
• Mental health concerns along with another health problem

  We partner with providers from other areas of Seattle Children’s to serve children and teens who are getting medical or surgical care here for a wide range of conditions (like cancer, craniofacial conditions, inflammatory bowel disease or heart defects) and who need mental health care or help coping with chronic illness.

• Prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs

  The Early Childhood Clinic sees children age 4 or younger who have behavior issues along with developmental problems that can be related to the effects of alcohol or drugs before birth and other life experiences.

• Psychotic disorders

  We have providers who specialize in working with children and teens who have psychotic disorders, like schizophrenia.

• Sleep problems
  • The Early Childhood Clinic sees children age 4 or younger who have behavior issues along with sleep issues.
  • If your child age 5 to 18 is seen in the Mood and Anxiety Program for anxiety, depression or another condition, we will address any related sleep issues your child might have.
  • Seattle Children’s also has a Sleep Disorders Program that offers testing (sleep studies), treatment and consultation for sleep disorders that affect babies, children and young people up to age 21.

• Sexual abuse or sexual aggression. Call the King County Sexual Assault Center at 888-998-6423 or Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center at 206-744-1600.
• Abuse, trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Call Harborview’s Center for Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress at 206-744-1600.