Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences

Silver Child Development Clinic

Discovering How Brain Development Affects the Behavior of Children

Watching mental growth and learning experiences evolve in children is nothing short of a miracle. During the first years of life, the human brain continues to take form and early experiences shape how the brain develops, affecting forever a person’s ability to process information and learn. When a child’s brain is not able to develop correctly, it becomes vulnerable to mental and behavioral disorders. 

The health care team at the Silver Child Development Center at USF Health understands the biological and environmental factors responsible for disorders of thought, learning, communication and behavior. We offer a wide range of psychological testing services including ADD, ADHD, IQ and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).

Our expert providers offer comprehensive psychiatric and psychological care for children and adolescents in an outpatient setting and our multi-disciplinary team offers assessments and ongoing care, including individual, family and group therapy, as well as pharmacologic management. 

We are translating this knowledge into newer, more effective treatments for our young patients. As a highly specialized child development center located on the USF Campus, we serve as a resource in the region for patient treatment advancements and research for brain development.

At the Silver Child Development Clinic, our USF Health scientists and clinicians are dedicated to helping your child – and your entire family – with successfully managing mental, developmental, learning and behavioral disorders.

At USF Health, we want to make it easy for patients to get the care they need.  

  • Please contact us at (813) 974-1404 to learn more about clinical research trials at USF Psychiatry.  All study related visits, procedures, and study-medications are provided.

    Why is Research so important?

    Without medical research, medicine would not have made the advances that we enjoy today. For you and for future patients, research is essential. Volunteering for medical research provides participants with opportunities to contribute to society, to the community and to others who have health problems.

    Who can take part in a research study?

    Each research study has requirements about who can participate. Using specific requirements is an important principle of research that helps to produce reliable results. These requirements are called inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria explain exactly what kinds of people may participate, while exclusion criteria explain exactly what kinds of people may not participate. These criteria are often based on such factors as age, gender, medical history, current health and past medical treatments. Some research studies seek participants with specific illnesses or conditions, while others need healthy volunteers.

    What is informed consent?

    Informed consent is the process of learning the key facts about a research study before deciding whether to participate. The consent process continues to provide information to you throughout your time in the study. To help you decide whether or not to participate, the researchers and staff will meet with you to explain the details of the study. You should feel free to ask any questions and to tell them if you don't understand something. The research team then provides an informed consent document that explains details about the study, such as its purpose, its length, required procedures, and key contacts. Known risks and potential benefits are also explained. You may also take a 'read only' copy of the informed consent document home with you to review and consider.

    If you decide to participate, you must sign the informed consent document. You will be given a copy of the document to keep. Informed consent is not a contract; by signing it you do not give up any of your rights and you can quit at any time. If you decide to quit, you should tell the research team.

    How can I prepare for the first meeting with the researchers?

    • Bring a friend or relative along for support and to hear the responses to your questions.
    • Bring pen and paper to take notes.
    • You can ask questions or stop the discussion if you don't understand what is being said.
    • Make a list of questions to ask.

  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

    ADHD, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, & Depression

    Autism

    Organizations

    Nutrition & Wellness

Moms open up about dealing with postpartum depression and psychosis

USF Health's expert Dr. Deborah Knudson Gonzalez, specialist in reproductive psychiatry appears on ABC's Nightline. Dr. Gonzalez shares her expertise on postpartum depression and psychosis.

Moms open up about dealing with postpartum depression and psychosis

USF Health Explores Psychedelics for Treatment-Resistant Depression

USF Health psychiatrists Dr. Ryan Wagoner and Dr. Deborah Knudson Gonzalez discuss their psilocybin and psychedelic compounds research for major depressive disorders, including treatment-resistant and postpartum depression. Watch and see if you qualify for ongoing trials.

USF Health Explores Psychedelics for Treatment-Resistant Depression