Benedetto Vitiello, M.D.

Practice Philosophy 

Dr. Vitiello is a highly respected psychiatrist with extensive experience caring for children, adolescents, and adults. He is known for his warm, thoughtful, and collaborative approach, creating an environment in which patients feel heard, understood, and at ease. He takes time to listen carefully to each individual’s concerns, helping patients develop a clearer understanding of their symptoms and treatment options while working toward concrete personal goals.  Patients and families value his ability to explain complex psychiatric conditions and treatment options in a calm, grounded way so they are informed, empowered, and actively involved in decision-making.

Dr. Vitiello approaches treatment thoughtfully and conservatively, focusing on what is clinically necessary and most beneficial for each individual. Decades of research experience anchor his clinical work in the strongest available scientific evidence. Medication is considered one of several possible interventions and prescribed judiciously, with close attention to potential benefits, possible risks, and tolerability for each individual child or adult. In addition to comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management, Dr. Vitiello provides supportive psychotherapy and collaborates closely with psychologists, pediatricians, and primary care providers to ensure integrated, coordinated care.

Areas of Expertise

Dr. Vitiello has an international reputation for his expertise in neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, as well as mood, anxiety, and related psychiatric conditions. He treats a broad range of concerns in children, adolescents, and adults, with particular expertise in ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD, tic disorders, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. While his clinical practice is primarily focused on child and adolescent psychiatry, Dr. Vitiello also evaluates and treats adults, particularly for ADHD, mood, anxiety, and OCD-related concerns. Additionally, he has experience evaluating geriatric patients for mood, anxiety, and cognitive concerns, and is available for both diagnostic consultation and ongoing psychiatric care.  Dr. Vitiello welcomes culturally diverse patients and draws on his extensive professional experience in both the United States and Europe to provide culturally informed, individualized care.

Experience and Training

Dr. Vitiello has spent decades conducting research on the efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments for children and adolescents with ADHD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and anxiety disorders, and the prevention of suicidal behavior in youth.  His vast research career has produced over 400 scientific publications and more than 36,000 citations, reflecting global impact in the fields of child & adolescent psychiatry, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mood disorders. This depth of knowledge enhances his diagnostic accuracy and ability to carefully weigh risks and benefits when developing treatment plans.

Dr. Vitiello has experience in private practice settings, academic medical centers, and university environments, and has worked extensively with culturally diverse populations. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pavia Medical School in Italy and completed residency training in psychiatry and child psychiatry at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, Drexel University. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University and previously held a professorship in Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology at the University of Turin. For over 20 years, Dr. Vitiello served as Chief of the Child, Adolescent, and Adult Treatment and Preventive Intervention Research Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and has received multiple research awards from NIMH, the FDA, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Vitiello offers in-person appointments in Washington, DC and virtual appointments to residents of Washington, D.C. and Maryland

Language: Fluent in Italian