Most children and adolescents with mental illnesses who receive help do so from their pediatricians or general practitioners. Still, many of these physicians feel unprepared to treat young people with behavioral, emotional, or cognitive impairment. To address this, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry will offer the Institute, “Practical Pediatric Psychopharmacology for Primary Care Physicians,” on Sunday, October 29, 2006 as part of its 53rd Annual Meeting at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Denise Espie, Director, Development and Communications, ext. 120, despie@aacap.org
Erin Baker, Communication Manager, ext. 119, ebaker@aacap.org
Most children and adolescents with mental illnesses who receive help do so from their pediatricians or general practitioners. Still, many of these physicians feel unprepared to treat young people with behavioral, emotional, or cognitive impairment. To address this, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry will offer the Institute, “Practical Pediatric Psychopharmacology for Primary Care Physicians,” on Sunday, October 29, 2006 as part of its 53rd Annual Meeting at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.
Pediatricians surveyed for the journal Pediatrics said that about 15 percent of the youth they see have mild to moderate behavioral problems. Because of a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists, public mental health funding cuts, and insurance restrictions, families are seeking care for depression, ADHD, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorders from their pediatricians.
Chaired by Christopher Kratochvil, M.D., and Adelaide Robb, M.D., “Practical Pediatric Psychopharmacology for Primary Care Clinicians,” is designed for pediatricians and clinicians who are interested in learning more about pharmacotherapy, non- medication treatment interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and how to diagnose mental illnesses.
Laurence L. Greenhill, M.D., will begin the Institute with a presentation on evidence-based pharmacotherapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, and how this research can guide everyday clinical practice for this pervasive and impairing disorder.
Jefferson B. Prince, M.D., will talk about best practices in management of pediatric depression, national trends, and the risks and benefits of antidepressants, and how recent regulatory warnings, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s black box warnings have impacted clinicians.
John T. Walkup, M.D., will discuss diagnostic issues, treatment options, and long-term management of anxiety disorders. He will also focus on the use of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating youth with anxiety disorders.
Adelaide Robb, M.D., will address bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, pervasive development disorder, and aggression.
Martin Stein, M.D., will conclude the Institute with case studies and will encourage participants to apply cases to their own practices.
If you are interested in attending the program and are a member of the media, please contact Erin Baker at ebaker@aacap.org. Others may register for the meeting at www.aacap.org.
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The AACAP Annual Meeting Press Room will be located in the Chicago Room of the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina. Press Room hours are Tuesday, October 24-Friday, October 27, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 28, 8:00 a.m. to noon. The meeting is open to members of the media and credentialed public relations staff of nonprofit, allied mental health organizations.
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.
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.
Our Facts for Families, available free of charge on the AACAP website, provide concise and up-to-date information on a wide array of issues relating to children’s mental health. Written in a simple, straightforward manner, these 88 one-page fact sheets are valuable to anyone raising or working with children. In addition, the AACAP routinely refers the media to expert spokespeople on child and adolescent issues, and sponsors The Campaign for America’s Kids – an initiative designed to fund an Advocacy Institute for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, with the goal of mental health for all children.
AACAP Mission: The Mission of the AACAP is the promotion of mentally healthy children, adolescents and families through research, training, advocacy, prevention, comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, peer support and collaboration.
