Presented by the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and the University of Kansas Medical Center Department of Continuing Education

Overview

This symposium will offer up-to-date information about assessment and rational management of selected clinical challenges commonly presented to mental health professionals working with young patients.

Dr. Edward R. Christophersen will provide an informative discussion of encopresis and toilet refusal, including an evidence-based assessment and treatment approach and clinical tips.

Dr. Boris Birmaher will present an update on the phenomenology of depression and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. He will also discuss a rationale for medication selection and strategies for appropriate management and follow-up of these treatments.

Dr. Anthony Spirito will discuss evidence-based methods for assessing and monitoring suicidal behavior and also provide an update on appropriate clinical steps for managing these complex behaviors.

Dr. Eve-Lynn Nelson will provide an update about how technology is being used to support the clinical management of depression.

Target Audience

This symposium is intended for psychiatrists, pediatricians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and other clinicians participating in mental health care for children and adolescents. The symposium also welcomes students and trainees in the above fields.

Objectives

At the completion of this symposium, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the incidence and comorbidities of encopresis and toileting refusal.
• Differentiate the presenting symptoms of encopresis and Hirschsprungs Disease.
• Report the evidence-based literature on the treatment of encopresis.
• Employ the essential questions for an emergency evaluation of an adolescent who has attempted suicide.
• Describe evidence-based techniques to use in therapy with adolescents who have attempted suicide.
• Recognize the role of substance abuse in suicidal behaviors and therapeutic strategies which address the abuse.
• Identify the signs and symptoms of depression in children and adolescents.
• Evaluate evidence-based strategies for prescribing psychotropic medications to treat symptoms of depression.
• Screen for and recognize suicidal behavior in young patients.
• Apply a rational approach to the management of suicidal behaviors in children and adolescents.
• Discuss technology-supported approaches to providing mental health services to youth.
• Access resources available for identifying youth at risk for depression.

Acknowledgments

Financial contributions and supporters of this program will be acknowledged in print at the symposium.

Exhibits

Commercial vendors are invited to exhibit at this meeting. Limited exhibit space will be available. Call Shannon Nothstine at 913-588-6492 or e-mail snothstine@kumc.edu for an application or more information.

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