Contact: Erin Baker, Communications Director
202.966.7300, Ext. 119
ebaker@aacap.org 

Adam Lowe, Communications Coordinator
202.966.7300, Ext. 154
alowe@aacap.org

Washington, D.C., September 24, 2008 – The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), is pleased to announce that Manpreet K. Singh, M.D., M.S., is the recipient of the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Award for Research in Depression or Suicide. Her paper, “Neuroanatomical Characterization of Child Offspring of Bipolar Parents,”was selected as the best on depression and/or suicide published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the past year. Dr. Singh was the chief resident of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry training program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital when she received the honor. She is now on faculty at Stanford pursuing additional research training in neuroimaging.

Dr. Singh’s research examined brain differences between children of parents with bipolar disorder and children of parents without the disorder. Her study, conducted by using diagnostic assessments and magnetic resonance imaging, concluded that eight-to-12 year olds with a family history of mania do not show significant structural differences in the cortex, thalamus, striatum, or amygdala sections of the brain compared with children of parents who do not have bipolar disorder.

“We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to examine the early brain structural characteristics of children at familial risk for bipolar disorder,” said Dr. Singh. “In time, we hope to be able to follow these children throughout the course of their development to determine which factors place them at increased risk for, or protect them from, a lifelong course of psychopathology.” 

In a joint statement to be published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, AACAP President Robert Hendren, D.O., and Journal Editor Andres Martin, M.D., state, “Dr. Singh and colleagues’ paper is a significant early contribution to a new generation of studies on brain structure and function in children at high risk for bipolar disorder—a disabling chronic illness.”

The AACAP Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Award for Research in Depression or Suicide is supported by the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation. The foundation awards grants to major medical institutions for post-doctoral fellowships in child and adolescent ADHD and child and adolescent depression. It also funds medical student programs in child and adolescent psychiatry at select medical institutions.

Dr. Singh will present, “Neuroanatomical Characterization of Child Offspring of Parents With Bipolar Disorder,” from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29 at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.

For a copy of Dr. Singh’s article or to obtain a photograph of Dr. Singh, please contact Adam Lowe, AACAP Communications Coordinator, at 202.966.7300 x 154 or alowe@aacap.org.

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Representing over 7,500 child and adolescent psychiatrists nationwide, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is the leading authority on children's mental health. AACAP members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.