Psychiatric Care for Children with Genetic and Neurodevelopmental Conditions
Dr. Annabel Kuhn is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her residency at Harvard and her fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. She provides psychiatric care for children with genetic syndromes, autism, developmental disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
These children may present with anxiety, mood changes, aggression, regression, sleep problems, repetitive behavior, or a sudden decline in functioning. Communication and developmental differences can make it difficult to determine whether a behavioral change reflects pain, an underlying medical problem, environmental stress, a medication effect, catatonia, or another psychiatric condition.
Her approach begins with understanding the child's developmental baseline and identifying exactly what has changed.
Every family begins with a brief phone conversation before scheduling an evaluation.
Where Dr. Kuhn Fits In
Dr. Kuhn does
- Establish the child's developmental baseline and identify what specifically has changed
- Evaluate behavioral change for pain, medical causes, medication effects, catatonia, and psychiatric conditions
- Provide parent guidance and recommend environmental and behavioral interventions
- Adapt psychotherapy and communication to the child's developmental needs
- Manage psychiatric medication carefully in children who may not be able to report side effects
Dr. Kuhn does not
- Perform genetic testing or provide genetic counseling
- Conduct formal autism diagnostic evaluations or neuropsychological testing
- Manage the medical aspects of a genetic syndrome
- Provide ABA, speech, occupational, or physical therapy
Dr. Kuhn treats the child's mental health. Diagnostic testing and developmental services remain with the specialists who provide them.
What Families Often Notice
When a child has limited communication, a change in behavior is often the only signal that something is wrong. Families frequently describe:
Dr. Kuhn's Approach
Everything starts with the baseline. Before any conclusion about a behavioral change, Dr. Kuhn needs a clear picture of how the child communicates, functions, and behaves when things are going well. That is why the evaluation begins with a 60 minute virtual appointment with parents or caregivers, who hold that information. The second half is spent understanding the child's perspective directly.
She then works to identify exactly what has changed and when. In a child who cannot easily report pain, constipation, a dental problem, or a medication side effect, behavior is the report. Catatonia in particular is frequently missed in this population and can present as regression or a sudden loss of function.
Treatment is shaped to the child's developmental needs and may include parent guidance, environmental and behavioral interventions, psychotherapy adapted appropriately, and careful medication management.
Who Dr. Kuhn Coordinates With
Understanding a neurodevelopmental picture usually requires information from several settings. With your consent, Dr. Kuhn communicates with the people who hold it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dr. Kuhn diagnose autism or perform genetic testing?
No. Dr. Kuhn does not conduct formal autism diagnostic evaluations, neuropsychological testing, or genetic testing, and she does not provide genetic counseling. She provides psychiatric care to children who have these conditions, working from the diagnostic information that developmental pediatrics, genetics, and neurology have already established.
My child cannot tell us what is wrong. How does an evaluation work?
The evaluation relies heavily on parents and caregivers, which is why it begins with a 60 to 90 minute appointment with the adults before Dr. Kuhn meets the child. The central task is establishing what the child is like at baseline and identifying precisely what has changed and when, since in a child with limited communication a behavioral change may be reporting pain, a medical problem, a medication effect, or a psychiatric condition.
Could a sudden decline be catatonia?
It can be, and catatonia is frequently missed in children with neurodevelopmental conditions because the signs are mistaken for the underlying disability. A sudden regression, loss of speech, marked slowing, or new refusal to move or eat can all reflect catatonia, which is treatable. Dr. Kuhn evaluates for it specifically. You can read more on the catatonia page.
Will medication be the first recommendation?
Not necessarily. Depending on what the evaluation finds, treatment may center on parent guidance, environmental or behavioral changes, adapted psychotherapy, or addressing an underlying medical contributor. When medication is appropriate, Dr. Kuhn prescribes carefully, with particular attention to children who may not be able to report side effects.
How do we start?
Every family begins with a brief ten-minute phone call with a parent or caregiver, so you can describe your child's situation and Dr. Kuhn can confirm her practice is a good fit before you commit to a full evaluation.
Our Location
Brookline, MA 02446
Virtual appointments available throughout Massachusetts
Located on Beacon Street near Coolidge Corner, one mile from Boston Children's Hospital and the Longwood Medical Area.
Start With a 10-Minute Call
Before scheduling an evaluation, Dr. Kuhn speaks with a parent or caregiver by phone for about ten minutes. It is a chance to describe what your child needs, ask about her approach, and decide together whether this practice is the right fit.
Request a Call