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Dr. Feder's Blog

Joshua D. Feder, M.D. Blog View all posts

Foundations for a Peaceful World
This week we are launching a new book at the United Nations General Assembly with the voices of multiple countries impacted by armed conflict, some on different sides in the same region, all committed to helping all the children.
Sep 24th, 2023

Recognizing and Treating Psychosis in Autism
Is it autism, psychosis or both? Autistic traits and psychotic symptoms can look alike. How common is psychosis in autism? Can we differentiate co-occurring autistic traits from psychotic symptoms? Dr. Kristin Cadenhead helps us sort it out.
Aug 22nd, 2023

Autism and Medication: Dr Feder's New Algorithm!
This is part 2 because there is a new Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice, Second Edition that just came out. Dr. Feder is here to tell us the purpose of the book and to walk us through his new algorithm for supporting autistic kids.
Apr 9th, 2023

Improving Sleep in Children and Adolescents
We are in the midst of "The Great Sleep Recession." How can we enhance the quality of sleep in children and adolescents? Mara and I dive into sleep on this episode of The Carlat Psychiatry Podcast.
Feb 20th, 2023

Assessing Sensorsy Processing Problems
Difficulties in sensory processing can profoundly impact quality of life. In this podcast, Mara and I will discuss how providers can identify sensory challenges to address these barriers and provide effective care in teens and adolescents.
Feb 20th, 2023

Addressing Sensory Processing Challenges
Difficulties in sensory processing can profoundly impact quality of life. In this podcast, Mara and I will discuss how providers can identify sensory challenges to address these barriers and provide effective care in teens and adolescents.
Feb 14th, 2023

Addressing Weight Stigma in Clinical Practice
Every patient and family you see is inescapably impacted by weight stigma or fat shaming and the damage from this bias can be lethal. In this podcast, Mara and I help your patients to shield themselves from weight stigma with healthier attitudes.
Oct 5th, 2022

School Inclusion: What You Need to Know
When a school placement is a bad fit, medication and therapy are unlikely to make much difference. In this episode, we will help you understand and assist your patients to optimize their success in the least restrictive placement.
Oct 5th, 2022

How Effective is Atomoxetine in Children and Adolescents?
Since its FDA approval in 2002, Atomoxetine (brand name Strattera) has become a second or third line option (after stimulants and sometimes after central alpha agonists) for ADHD in both children and adults. Does it work? Listen and find out!
Jun 27th, 2022

Discussing Stimulant Treatment with Parents
ADHD is one of the most treatable conditions in psychiatry if patients adhere to medication regimens. So, why are parents so resistant to stimulant medications and how can we approach these misconceptions?
May 19th, 2022

Treating Children of Divorce
Each year in the US, there are about 1.04 million divorces, affecting about 800,000 children. How can we navigate the complexities of treating a child with divorce?
Apr 16th, 2022

Compassionate Leadership - 3 micro videos
As leaders we want to be kind while being effective, and this can be difficult. How do make sure that we do not become tired and angry but instead stay fresh and creative? Hear Zoe Kernohan Neely, Josh Feder MD & Jerri Lynn Hogg PhD in three mini videos.
Oct 7th, 2021

Positive Development on Affect Autism
Positive Development is a start-up aiming to change the culture of the current state of autism treatment so that it opens the door for evidence-based developmental approaches for autism that are much more humane.
Aug 29th, 2021

Three Approaches to Autism Intervention
We break down three main autism intervention approaches, and provide you with information that will help you improve on your abilities to recognize which particular autism intervention might be best for a specific patient.
Aug 18th, 2021

Viloxazine (Qelbree): A Faster Strattera?
It's all over the internet: a new non-stimulant medication approved by the FDA for treatment of ADHD. but is Viloxazine (Qelbree) going to be a game changer? Find out!
Jun 21st, 2021

Pharmacogenetics: Not Quite Ready for Prime Time?
There's so much marketing for genetic testing, but does it really help clinical care? Listen to our interview with Dr. Aaron Besterman about how genetic tests work, and what can be reliably taken away from them.
Jun 7th, 2021

Duty to Warn: Antidepressants in Children and Adolescents
For 17 years, since the FDA black box warning about suicidality with antidepressants, our community has quoted data that downplays this concern. We were wrong. We were deceived. Antidepressants can be lifesaving, but there really is a duty to warn.
Mar 2nd, 2021

Affect Autism - Accept Reality?
Returning guest Dr. Joshua Feder and I discuss why it is so important to emphasize that accepting reality is a process that parents need to be supported in, and the ways in which we can do this.
Feb 12th, 2021

Reimagining ADHD with Ned Hallowell
While medication is the mainstay of treating symptoms in ADHD, Edward Hallowell, MD, shares a positive, relationship-based approach to ADHD with practical strategies to help children and adolescents manage ADHD.
Dec 1st, 2020

Air Quality and Mental Health
Air pollution, including particulate matter from forest fires, is a leading cause of health problems. It is also linked to psychiatric problems in children and adolescents. We take a closer look at the evidence and clinical implications in this episode.
Sep 16th, 2020

Addressing Systemic Inequity
We hope this trio of 60-second psych podcasts is a start at addressing the impact of systemic inequity: How to Address Implicit Bias Promoting Assertiveness in Adolescents Preventing Trauma With Racial Socialization
Jul 19th, 2020

Cognitive Rehabilitation for Youth With Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders in children and adolescents have both underlying neurophysiological differences and problems created by these differences. Chief among these are cognitive impacts. This podcast talks about how to manage those problems.
May 15th, 2020

Adults in the Lives of Children
Zoe Kernohan-Neely and I made these 2-3 min videos for Early Years The Organisation for Young Children in Northern Ireland to offer support for adults during this time of the pandemic: managing stress, structuring the day, wearing masks, etc.
May 2nd, 2020

Coronavirus and Mental Health – Part 2
The COVID19 pandemic has us locked down and under pressure. Here we’ll talk about telepsychiatry, insurance issues, prescriptions, living under lockdown, and my own telehealth online mental health practice.
Apr 9th, 2020

Making the Most of Online Therapy
In this new era with me and colleagues doing online care, therapy, telemedicine, & telehealth, my puppy and I shot this video during the NFAR (virtual) Race for Autism to introduce you to the use of video for therapy and medical care.
Mar 28th, 2020

Telemedicine During COVID19 Pandemic
In compliance with San Diego County recommendations, I have shifted to online telehealth telemedicine menatl health services for now. My hope is that our coronavirus situation is resolved sooner than later, but until then we can meet by phone or video.
Mar 20th, 2020

Coronavirus and Mental Health
In this special episode on coronavirus in mental health, Dr. Feder, who is doing telehealth/telemedicine, discusses basic information on symptoms, minimizing transmission, tips for telepsychiatry, helping anxious families, and addressing cultural bias.
Mar 6th, 2020

ADHD and Life Expectancy with Russell Barkley, PhD
We interviewed ADHD icon Dr. Russ Barkley. I thought we'd hear about his groundbreaking work on behavioral interventions for ADHD. Instead, Dr. Barkley blew open our entire understanding of the impact of ADHD. Listen and let me know what you think!
Feb 1st, 2020

Cannabis and Kids
Child psychiatrists are grappling with the problem of pervasive use of marijuana in an age where legalization of use for adults has led to even greater use in teens. In this episode, we go over two recent interviews in The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report.
Dec 16th, 2019

Informed Consent - What Everyone Should Know
Informed consent is so much more than a quick signature on a form - it is an ongoing process that organizes medical care for doctors, patients, and families. This podcast covers the parts of informed consent process and a free download of a concise form.
Nov 3rd, 2019

Legislative Action: Chutes & Ladders
Getting a bill passed is a huge process. We cover a philosophy for 'fixing the world', the ups and downs of the legislative process, and managing meetings with important people. This is followed by a play by play on the bill we ran this cycle in 2019.
Oct 27th, 2019

TMS for Kids?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS ) is getting a lot of attention and a lot of marketing. But is it safe and effective for children and adolescents? And if so, what's the cost and what should it be used for? Listen to my Carlat Podcast and find out.
Oct 20th, 2019

School Refusal - Oh No!
This is not just playing hooky! In our new podcast for The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report, Mara Goverman and I talk about understanding and helping kids who just won’t go to school. We cover assessment, interventions and, when needed, medications.
Aug 31st, 2019

Teens and Tweens on the Autism Spectrum
I recently spoke at Fusion Academy on helping teens and tweens on the Autism Spectrum. This rehash at Fielding U is a 27-minute romp featuring an easy to learn, straightforward developmental method and practical ideas for common problems that crop up.
Aug 28th, 2019

Bringing Family Connection Back to Video Gaming
Intellivision is bringing family connection back to video gaming. All games will be E or E10 for Everyone and the controllers are designed for accessibility so kids, grandparents, and others can join and connect.
Aug 20th, 2019

Is Watching 13 Reasons Why Bad For Teens?
This is my special episode of the Carlat Psychiatry Podcast focused on child psychiatry, suicidality, and the popular Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. The show stirred controversy when it portrayed the bullying and suicide of a teenager.
Aug 12th, 2019

Becoming More Matthew
Both a case study in developmental approaches to autism and a thank you to the people who helped 'Matthew' reach high school graduation. Every child is different, but the aim of following the child's lead and building on it to reach a dream is the same.
Aug 5th, 2019

The Right Direction
New books for helping kids with developmental challenges are more empathic and in line with the latest research.
Jul 4th, 2019

'Preventing the 20 year old fighter in the 2 year old biter.'
Why am I in Northern Ireland again? Early stress leads to risk for traumatization and radicalization, and I come here, a place long-impacted by conflict, developing programs to help parents and teachers to help young children to be more resilient.
May 24th, 2019

Autism and Medication with Dr. Joshua Feder
Last December, we spoke with ​Dr. Joshua Feder about ​repetition in autism therapy​. He returns today to speak with us from his practice in Solana Beach, California about autism and medication.
Apr 21st, 2018

Autism Is: Helping peers understand peers
This curriculum with common core standards is designed to help students to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with kids with Autism, which changes their perceptions and improves their behavior towards their classmates.
Mar 11th, 2020

Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice
The Child Medication Fact Book is a comprehensive reference guide covering all the important facts, from cost to pharmacokinetics, about the most commonly prescribed medications in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Sep 23rd, 2018

Carlat - Antipsychotics and Aggressive Children With ADHD
The TOSCA study focused on children with severe ADHD, who also met criteria for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD). These children tend not to do as well with stimulants alone and often end up being prescribed antipsychotics, typi
Jul 15th, 2018

Carlat - Integrative Approach to Assessing ADHD
In this tip, excerpted from a past issue of the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report, Elizabeth Tien, MD, a child & adolescent psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, offers off-label advice on prescribing medications for children with PTSD. B
Jun 30th, 2018

Carlat - Managing Conflict Over Medication Consent
The following tips for overcoming conflict in the medication consent process were excerpted from an article I wrote for the May/June issue of the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report: If it’s not an emergency, take your time.
Jun 20th, 2018

Carlat - Calming Violent, Aggressive Patients
In many cases, it will be immediately clear when an aggressive patient needs to be sent to the ER, says Ruth Gerson, MD, Director at the Bellevue Hospital Children’s Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program in New York, NY. `
May 23rd, 2018

Carlat - Tips for Good Medication Practice
The following are some recommendations on good medication practice from child psychiatrist Mark Chenven, MD, who offered his expertise in the May/June issue of The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report.
May 6th, 2018

Helping Children To Tell Us About Their Experience
There are some ways to help you assess the type of anxiety that leads to inattention. Consider the following tips, which we’ve excerpted from an article in the March/April issue of the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report newsletter:
Apr 8th, 2018

Carlat - Treating Binge Eating Disorders
In a past issue of the Carlat Child Psychiatry Report, Sara Weekly, MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine, gave the following advice on BED treatment strategies:
Mar 12th, 2018

Carlat - Understanding Study Types and Methodology
In a past article from The Carlat Psychiatry Report, Joshua Sonkiss, MD, Medical Director for Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services and Boys and Girls Home of Alaska in Fairbanks, reviewed and explained the different types of study designs.
Feb 5th, 2018

Helping Kids with Problem Behaviors in School
All behavior is a code that a child uses to communicate, says Jessica Minahan, a board-certified behavior analyst and special educator, who co-authored The Behavior Code Companion. “Bad behavior” is often cloaked anxiety, and we can support education profe
Dec 30th, 2017

Grant Rants: Building Better Research
Most of the research I review is flawed. It’s not so hard to build a decent design. So I made a 21 frame cartoon to help people. While it’s written for NFAR*, the ideas are universal. The link and a sample frame are below. Hope you like it! www.nfar.org/im
Aug 23rd, 2017

Unpacking Tantrums
In the April 2017 Journal of Developmental and Physical Disability, Mayes et. al, published an article entitled: Tantrums are Not Associated with Speech or Language. This research is important from clinical, research as well as advocacy perspectives.
Jul 16th, 2017

Let’s be famous
We don’t really want to be bothered by paparazzi. But as it turns out, if we want to leave something useful behind, we probably need to say something meaningful, do that well so that many people hear us, and, of course, still pay the bills.
Feb 14th, 2016

A Pause During Battle: Tech Play
A Pause During Battle: Tech Play Engaged in a pitched battle, our rag tag DIR/Floortime Coaliton of California, fighting hard for the rights of families to have access to all evidence based approaches, including developmental ones, is pitted against an arr
May 3rd, 2015

Evidence Based Practice – An Overview
Evidence Based Practice – An Overview Defining Evidence Based Practice: Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is a process for making better clinical treatment decisions. In EBP we consider relevant research about a condition and think about what might be useful
Apr 19th, 2015

Quick help for mental health crises
It’s not uncommon: a patient or family member is in severe distress and we need to figure out what to do and find resources right away.
Apr 11th, 2015