Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences provides comprehensive psychiatric and psychological diagnosis and treatment for children, adolescents, and their parents and families. Our specialty programs translate scientific developments and innovative practices into personalized treatment plans tailored to meet the needs of the people we serve.

How Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Can Help

We offer collaborative, team-based programs for children and adolescents -- from initial evaluation to follow-up treatment. Our expert clinicians represent a broad range of specialties and bring an unparalleled, comprehensive approach to treatment planning and continuing care. Because we are integrated with the internationally recognized Duke University Health System, we can easily make referrals within Duke’s network of providers.

Duke’s approach to evidence-based assessment and treatment ensures that our patients receive the latest, and most effective care available. Our clinicians include leaders in mental and behavioral health research, who conduct studies to better understand and treat children and their families. In some cases, our patients may participate in these studies and benefit from the most recent treatment developments that are available. Visit DukeHealth.org for more information on current clinical research.

Services

Our child psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers take a collaborative, compassionate, child- and family-centered approach to their work. The result is a broad array of integrated diagnostic and treatment services for children of all ages that address many conditions, and are carefully designed to achieve the best outcome for each and every patient.

Our diagnostic services include:
   • Behavioral and developmental assessments 
   • Diagnostic evaluations and second opinions 
   • Neurodevelopmental, and psycho-educational testing 
   • Psychiatric and substance use-related evaluations 
   • Psychological and neuropsychological testing
   • Forensic psychiatry consultations 
 

Duke offers a variety of clinical services and treatment. These services, which are available on an outpatient basis, include:
   • Individual therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy 
   • Group therapy
   • Family therapy 
   • Medication management 
   • Parent training 
 

Specialized Programs

Duke Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences offers a number of specialized programs for children and adolescents with mental health concerns. These programs include:

Duke Child & Family Study Center – This collection of programs provide diagnostic evaluations and an array of ongoing treatments for children, adolescents, families, and adults including individual and/or evidence-based psychological therapies. The clinic programs include:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Program – This program provides comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for children, adolescents and adults, including psycho-educational testing for learning disorders. Parent and child behavior management groups and child coping skills groups are available.
• Duke Center for Eating Disorders – Our multidisciplinary team of specialists evaluates, diagnoses, and treats people of all ages who suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and others.
• Family Studies Program and Clinic – Our team of mental health experts are trained in treating families, and specialized in issues such as couples counseling, family therapy, parent education for parents of children and adolescents with behavioral problems, and general therapy for enhancing family communication and problem solving. 
• Psychosocial Treatment Clinic – The Duke Psychosocial Treatment Clinic (PTC) is committed to working with children, adolescents, and families seeking evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, and treatment services for a range of psychological or adjustment difficulties.
• Program in Child Affective and Anxiety Disorders (PCAAD) – We provide the highest level of expert care to children and adolescents suffering from a variety of anxiety and affective (mood) disorders through our innovative research program.  

Biofeedback Services – Our specialists use the most advanced technology to help referred patients 14 and older gain control over their physiological responses to stress and pain, and master deep muscle relaxation. The program uses behavioral management techniques to help people suffering from conditions such as headaches, anxiety disorders, cardiovascular conditions, chronic pain, stress and Type A behavior.

Center for Child and Family Health (CCFH) – CCFH provides diagnostic evaluation and an array of evidence based practices designed to treat post traumatic stress and chronic stress in children and adolescents ages birth through 21. Medication management is offered in addition to therapy. CCFH is a collaboration of Duke University, North Carolina Central University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Child & Parent Support Services, and the community.

Family Care Program (FCP) – FCP provides outpatient treatment to help pregnant or mothering women overcome drug addictions and be the best parents possible. We also provide services to the children of these women. Our treatment approach is based upon a gender-responsive model in which addiction is believed to result from biological, psychological, social, and spiritual vulnerabilities, which often include a history of trauma, abuse, or neglect.

Forensic Psychiatry – Psychiatrists, psychologists, and other professionals on the Duke faculty are available to offer evidence-based forensic consultation to legal professionals.

Pediatric Neuropsychology Program – This program conducts neuropsychological, neurocognitive, behavioral and emotional assessments of children and adolescents with medical, developmental and learning disorders that may result from disease and/or treatment regimens. We also consult with physicians, parents and teachers to help patients adjust to and cope with their challenges.

Affiliated Programs

Central Regional Hospital – Central Regional Hospital provides inpatient psychiatric care for children, adolescents, and adults.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) – CAPS helps Duke students enhance strengths and develop abilities to successfully live, grow and learn in their personal and academic lives. Services include brief individual counseling/psychotherapy, consultation, couples and group counseling, and assistance with referrals.

Duke Department of Pediatrics – The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is proud to partner with the Department of Pediatrics and Duke Children’s Hospital to offer mental and behavioral health services to children and teens. The Division of Child Development and Behavioral Health in the Department of Pediatrics offers treatment services such as cognitive-behavioral and family therapies, psychoeducational testing, psychopharmacological (psychotropic medication) management, an intensive outpatient substance use treatment and recovery program, and genetic counseling. Among the most common problems referred to Division clinicians are autism, ADHD, adjustment problems, alcohol and illicit substance abuse, anxiety, bipolar disorder, defiant behavior, depression, fragile X syndrome, learning disorders, OCD, pediatric PTSD, pervasive developmental disorders, psychosis, public school teleconsultations, and Tourette syndrome. A special fragile X multidisciplinary clinic within the Division is staffed by a developmental pediatrician, a clinical child psychologist, and a genetic counselor, with access to a parent advocate for family support.

Locations

This service is available at:

• Center for Child and Family Health
  411 W. Chapel Hill Street, Suite 908, Durham, NC 27701
• Duke Child and Family Study Center
  Pavilion East at Lakeview, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 300, Durham, NC 27705
• Durham Child Development and Behavioral Health Clinic
  402 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710