Psychotropic Medication for Childhood & Adolescent Disorders

Location:  Billerica, MA - Courtyard by Marriott, Billerica

The topic of psychotropic medications for youth poses a challenge even among medical professionals. Keeping abreast of the many new products specifically formulated for a given symptom sub-set is an immense task, not to mention the many other medications that are utilized in an "off-label" fashion, as is often the case in treating youth. Adding to the complexity is the fact that medications which are prescribed in psychiatry may be utilized for their FDA approved purpose, their side effects, their synergistic benefit or their anecdotal effect.

In this workshop, we will build medication awareness in the treatment of children and adolescents, ages 2 – 18, so that participants are able to converse with clients, parents and professionals in an educated manner, empowering them to guide treatment and know when & how to refer a client to higher level of care.

Topics which will be covered include: psychiatry as a specialty and the sub-specialty of child & adolescent psychiatry as related to pharmacology; brief diagnostic overview; how medications work, choosing the correct medication for youth: neurotransmitters; antidepressants; anxiolytics; stimulants; hypnotics; mood stabilizers; and antipsychotics. Workshop participants will:

• Create an awareness of the scope of psychiatric practice as it applies to pharmacology
• Understand psychotropic medication categories
• Review the individual medications within each category and the considerations in usage for youth
• Understand and be able to participate in the individualized decision process of prescribing for children and adolescents

This workshop will benefit social workers, case managers, supervisors, clinicians, family therapists, educators and emergency service personnel who work with youth and their families. Workshop format will include lecture, case examples and discussion. Participants are encouraged to bring case examples.

Instructor:

Philip Anthony Dingmann, M.D., is the Department of Mental Health Site Director for Cape Cod and the Islands. A psychiatrist who has worked with children, adolescents and adults, he currently has a private practice for children and is the Psychiatric consultant to Kids and Teens Assessment Center in Hyannis, MA. He previously worked with Child & Family Services in New Bedford. Dr. Dingmann consults with schools, social service agencies, local pediatricians, area emergency service programs and local emergency rooms and trains nationally. He uses a highly interactive, engaging style to build the knowledge base of his audiences.