Biography

• Specialties and Research/Medical Interests: 30 years’ experience in psychopharmacology (medication treatments) for severe challenging behaviors in children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD), including aggression, self-injury and property destruction. Minimally verbal individuals and treatment resistance included.
• Gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric illness.
• Women’s advocacy, active member and local president of American Association of University Women.
• Medical education development to increase focus on Autism and Intellectual Disabilities.

Research Focus

• New and old drugs impacting BDNF, for neuropsychiatric illness associated with severe challenging behaviors in all ages with ASD and/or IDD (Hellings et al., Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2017) .
• Weight gain and medical illness associated with dopamine antagonists (antipsychotic drugs), and ways to reverse it in ASD/IDD.
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in all ages with ASD and /or IDD (Hellings et al., Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, In: Diagnostic Manual of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities- 2, Eds: Fletcher R.J., Barnhill J., Cooper, S. NADD, New York, 2016).
• Treatment resistance in ASD/IDD, causes and management.
• Minimally verbal individuals, and severe behavior problems.
• Gluten sensitivity, celiac disease and neuropsychiatric illness.
• Dr. Hellings has served as medical director of ASD/IDD Neuropsychiatric Services for Kansas University Medical Center, The Ohio State University Nisonger Center and State of Missouri.