Behavioral Health Experts, Patients & Families Attend Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services Conference
The fifth Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services (CABS) conference, focused on pediatric bipolar disorder spectrum disorders, addressed the theme, “Irritability and Bipolar Spectrum Disorders in Youth: Facts and Myths-Assessment, Monitoring and Treatment.”
The CABS conference presents current research and clinical knowledge about the treatment of bipolar disorder and comorbid conditions to professionals, patients, and families, and is organized by Boris Birmaher, MD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Endowed Chair in Early Onset Bipolar Disease, and Director, CABS) and
Rasim Diler, MD (Professor of Psychiatry; Medical Director, Inpatient CABS; and Co-director, CABS). The 2024 meeting provided a one-day intensive training around assessment, monitoring, and treatment of irritability in youth with and at risk for bipolar spectrum disorders, and disseminated information about recent research. Following a welcome and introduction, the conference was opened by a young adult living with bipolar disorder.
Robert Althoff, MD, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Psychological Science at the University of Vermont), presented the keynote address, “Irritability and Broad Dysregulation in Youth–Intersection and Crossroads with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder.” With a background in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral genetics, Dr. Althoff studies self-regulation, adversity, and resilience. His research aims to identify modifiable genetic and environmental factors to reduce depression, personality disorders, and substance use in adolescence and adulthood. Most recently, Dr. Althoff has examined the metabolic consequences of impaired self-regulation and possible underlying environmental, genetic, psychophysiological, and epigenetic mechanisms along with a research program to develop novel assessments for suicide risk prediction.
The conference’s rich program additionally featured a presentation by a family member of an individual with bipolar disorder, a discussion forum on facts and myths around irritability and bipolar disorder in youth, breakout sessions, and two presentations from Department of Psychiatry faculty members:
Rasim Diler, MD: Irritability, Depression and the Differential Diagnosis of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Danella Hafeman, MD, PhD: Risk Calculation and Predicting the Development of Bipolar Spectrum Disorders
Thanks to all who attended and participated!