Mental Health

Members of the co-occurring disorders intensive outpatient program include, from left, Susan Crawford, RN-BC, Amy Hulings, LCSW, Jessica Lavender, LPC-MHSP, and Maria Dixon, LMSW.
April 29, 2021

Program combines treatment for mental health, substance use disorders

For people with co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders, finding integrated care that treats both conditions can be a difficult task. Vanderbilt Behavioral Health is seeking to simplify care for these patients through the co-occurring disorders intensive outpatient program (IOP).

By Emily Stembridge
February 26, 2021

Family’s gift supports addressing psychosocial needs of cardiac patients’ families

Ellen and Bo Boyer’s first child, a daughter they named Brett, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD) while in utero. The couple was told that their beloved daughter would require open heart surgery to survive.

By Jessica Pasley
The stress of coping with the pandemic was the theme for the kickoff of the recent Advanced Practice Grand Rounds.
February 4, 2021

Grand rounds focuses on mental health, wellness

Advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and hospital leaders from around Vanderbilt University Medical Center gathered over Zoom on Jan. 19 for the kickoff of Advanced Practice Grand Rounds, the monthly educational series organized by the Office of Advanced Practice.

By Matt Batcheldor
February 3, 2021

Webinar set to address growing threat of cyberbullying

The increase in children’s online activity during the COVID-19 pandemic has sparked the decision to host a free webinar on cyberbullying and internet safety on Thursday, Feb. 11, from noon to 1 p.m.

By Jessica Pasley
January 21, 2021

Poll finds Tennessee parents concerned about education, children’s mental health as COVID-19 presses on

The latest Vanderbilt Child Health Poll release found that many Tennessee parents are worried about the mental health of their children during the COVID-19 pandemic, and over 80% of parents had concerns about their children attending school remotely. The Poll also revealed that schooling practices and mental health concerns have varied widely among Tennessee families of different racial and economic groups.

By Jake Lowary
November 12, 2020

Pawlikowski named interim president of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

Mary Pawlikowski, MA, MEd, Chief Operating Officer of Vanderbilt Behavioral Health, has been named interim president of the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH), succeeding Jameson Norton, MBA, in the role he has held since 2016.

By John Howser
October 15, 2020

Study explores nicotine patch to treat late-life depression

Backed by nearly $5 million in funding, researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center are testing to see whether transdermal nicotine patches can improve mood, forgetfulness and attentiveness in adults over 60 with a diagnosis of depression.
By Kelsey Herbers
October 1, 2020

Pinpointing brain changes in psychosis

Specific regions of the thalamus — a central brain region — are smaller in adults with psychotic disorders and youth at risk for psychotic disorders and are associated with cognitive impairment.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 24, 2020

Webinars to address depression, anxiety in children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year as many as one out of every five children experience a mental disorder, and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified stress and separated children from their friends and normal activities such as in-person classes and sports.
By Jill Clendening
July 24, 2020

Health, well-being and food security of families deteriorating under COVID-19 stress

The ongoing disruptive changes from efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are having a substantial negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of parents and their children across the country, according to a new national survey published today in Pediatrics.
By Holly Fletcher
July 16, 2020

Nearly one-third of Tennessee parents are worried their child has an undiagnosed mental health condition, new poll finds

One-third of Tennessee parents with children ages 6-17 are worried their child has an undiagnosed mental health condition, a new poll from the Vanderbilt Center for Child Health Policy found.
By Jake Lowary
May 27, 2020

Experts offer tips for managing and monitoring adolescent mental health

As families are managing the restrictions that the COVID-19 pandemic presents, doctors at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt are urging parents to pay close attention to the behaviors of their children.
By Jessica Pasley
May 15, 2020

Q&A: Self-control, choice, fear and desire for normalcy underpin behavior as economy re-opens

Consumer behavior expert, Kelly Goldsmith, PHD, delves into how conflicting motivations – a desire for normalcy and being safe – will play out as the economy begins to re-open in Nashville and Tennessee.
By Holly Fletcher