TBD Meeting (2862-19)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Three steps in the progressive pathology of anxiety and other pediatric psychiatric disorders are important to recognize for their critical role in guiding treatment, John T. Walkup, MD, said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

After the onset of symptoms and over the course of time, those with untreated anxiety disorders are at risk for developing impairment in adaptation and coping, and also the development of maladaptive behaviors like substance abuse and suicidal behavior, said Dr. Walkup, chair of the department of psychiatry at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

The focus of his presentation was on the treatment of anxiety disorders in children, but Dr. Walkup said the impact of the three-tier progression is likely relevant to any psychiatric disorder that begins in childhood.

In essence, the scope of problems becomes more complicated over time, and without early treatment, children continue to be symptomatic. But they also develop a lifestyle based on avoidance coping and might engage in maladaptive behaviors, Dr. Walkup said. As a result, the complexity of treatment increases substantially beyond just symptom control.

Providing an example, Dr. Walkup described a child of 7 years of age with separation anxiety. If treated at the time symptoms begin, Dr. Walkup explained, cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication would be expected to be both straightforward and highly effective. If left untreated until age 14, the child might accumulate impairment in independent functioning (due to avoidance coping) at a particularly important time in development.

“In those kids, you can reduce their anxiety burden with acute treatments like [cognitive-behavioral therapy] or meds, but now you also have 7 or 8 years of accumulated impairment due to avoidance coping and parental accommodation,” Dr. Walkup said. “If those kids are going to catch up developmentally, they also need life skill support in addition to symptomatic treatment for their anxiety.”

In the case of any pediatric psychiatric disorder, early treatment has the potential to thwart progression to a more complex and treatment-resistant form, but anxiety is a particularly prominent example. In most children, anxiety is relatively easy to control if caught early but a greater challenge when fears are not contained and the child accumulates ongoing impairment.

The obstacle is that many children are not diagnosed at the time of onset, said Dr. Walkup. The solution, he suggested, is better training of pediatricians and other primary care physicians not only to identify those children but to initiate treatment in uncomplicated cases.

“The person who has that longitudinal relationship with the child is their primary care provider, and this is really the person who is going to do the best job in getting to these kids early and initiating treatment,” Dr. Walkup said.

“We have a program in Chicago where we have trained primary care physicians not only to treat anxiety and depression, but we have specifically focused them on the easiest cases in their caseload, the classic phenotypes,” Dr. Walkup reported. Using a collaborative care model, this approach has been effective in building the confidence of primary care clinicians and in reaching children when symptoms are easier to control.

Importantly, anti-anxiety medication delivered in primary care could be sufficient to help children to manage anxiety effectively when parents cooperate in helping their children manage their fears.

“People suggest that we always start with CBT, but there [are no data] to support that. I think it is a conclusion drawn from the fact that CBT works and medication has side effects,” Dr. Walkup said. He appreciates the evidence that CBT is effective, but he cautioned that this therapy is not available everywhere, and pharmacologic therapies may be as or potentially more effective for some anxiety symptoms like anxiety-related physical symptoms.
 

Conversely, some have expressed the opinion that drugs might be a better option in late adolescence, when the efficacy of CBT appears to diminish, but Dr. Walkup objected to that characterization as well.

“My sense is that if you treat a 7-year-old for symptoms that have lasted a year it’s very different from treating a 17-year-old who has had symptoms for a decade,” Dr. Walkup said. Referring back to the contention that psychiatric disease in children becomes more complicated with a longer duration, this might explain why “you don’t see as much immediate success” with CBT and medication in the older age groups even if this is an effective treatment tool.

Some psychiatric disorders in children, including anxiety, might resolve with age, but early recognition and treatment should be a goal because of the potential to reduce symptoms and avoidance coping, and improve long-term outcomes, Dr. Walkup reported. Ironically, it might not be just anxiety symptoms, but poor adaptation and coping that might be the most important driver of ongoing impairment.

Dr. Walkup has served as an unpaid adviser to the Anxiety Disorders of Association of America. In addition, he has received royalties from Wolters Kluwer for CME activity on childhood anxiety.

This story was updated 2/11/2019.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Three steps in the progressive pathology of anxiety and other pediatric psychiatric disorders are important to recognize for their critical role in guiding treatment, John T. Walkup, MD, said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

After the onset of symptoms and over the course of time, those with untreated anxiety disorders are at risk for developing impairment in adaptation and coping, and also the development of maladaptive behaviors like substance abuse and suicidal behavior, said Dr. Walkup, chair of the department of psychiatry at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

The focus of his presentation was on the treatment of anxiety disorders in children, but Dr. Walkup said the impact of the three-tier progression is likely relevant to any psychiatric disorder that begins in childhood.

In essence, the scope of problems becomes more complicated over time, and without early treatment, children continue to be symptomatic. But they also develop a lifestyle based on avoidance coping and might engage in maladaptive behaviors, Dr. Walkup said. As a result, the complexity of treatment increases substantially beyond just symptom control.

Providing an example, Dr. Walkup described a child of 7 years of age with separation anxiety. If treated at the time symptoms begin, Dr. Walkup explained, cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication would be expected to be both straightforward and highly effective. If left untreated until age 14, the child might accumulate impairment in independent functioning (due to avoidance coping) at a particularly important time in development.

“In those kids, you can reduce their anxiety burden with acute treatments like [cognitive-behavioral therapy] or meds, but now you also have 7 or 8 years of accumulated impairment due to avoidance coping and parental accommodation,” Dr. Walkup said. “If those kids are going to catch up developmentally, they also need life skill support in addition to symptomatic treatment for their anxiety.”

In the case of any pediatric psychiatric disorder, early treatment has the potential to thwart progression to a more complex and treatment-resistant form, but anxiety is a particularly prominent example. In most children, anxiety is relatively easy to control if caught early but a greater challenge when fears are not contained and the child accumulates ongoing impairment.

The obstacle is that many children are not diagnosed at the time of onset, said Dr. Walkup. The solution, he suggested, is better training of pediatricians and other primary care physicians not only to identify those children but to initiate treatment in uncomplicated cases.

“The person who has that longitudinal relationship with the child is their primary care provider, and this is really the person who is going to do the best job in getting to these kids early and initiating treatment,” Dr. Walkup said.

“We have a program in Chicago where we have trained primary care physicians not only to treat anxiety and depression, but we have specifically focused them on the easiest cases in their caseload, the classic phenotypes,” Dr. Walkup reported. Using a collaborative care model, this approach has been effective in building the confidence of primary care clinicians and in reaching children when symptoms are easier to control.

Importantly, anti-anxiety medication delivered in primary care could be sufficient to help children to manage anxiety effectively when parents cooperate in helping their children manage their fears.

“People suggest that we always start with CBT, but there [are no data] to support that. I think it is a conclusion drawn from the fact that CBT works and medication has side effects,” Dr. Walkup said. He appreciates the evidence that CBT is effective, but he cautioned that this therapy is not available everywhere, and pharmacologic therapies may be as or potentially more effective for some anxiety symptoms like anxiety-related physical symptoms.
 

Conversely, some have expressed the opinion that drugs might be a better option in late adolescence, when the efficacy of CBT appears to diminish, but Dr. Walkup objected to that characterization as well.

“My sense is that if you treat a 7-year-old for symptoms that have lasted a year it’s very different from treating a 17-year-old who has had symptoms for a decade,” Dr. Walkup said. Referring back to the contention that psychiatric disease in children becomes more complicated with a longer duration, this might explain why “you don’t see as much immediate success” with CBT and medication in the older age groups even if this is an effective treatment tool.

Some psychiatric disorders in children, including anxiety, might resolve with age, but early recognition and treatment should be a goal because of the potential to reduce symptoms and avoidance coping, and improve long-term outcomes, Dr. Walkup reported. Ironically, it might not be just anxiety symptoms, but poor adaptation and coping that might be the most important driver of ongoing impairment.

Dr. Walkup has served as an unpaid adviser to the Anxiety Disorders of Association of America. In addition, he has received royalties from Wolters Kluwer for CME activity on childhood anxiety.

This story was updated 2/11/2019.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Three steps in the progressive pathology of anxiety and other pediatric psychiatric disorders are important to recognize for their critical role in guiding treatment, John T. Walkup, MD, said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

After the onset of symptoms and over the course of time, those with untreated anxiety disorders are at risk for developing impairment in adaptation and coping, and also the development of maladaptive behaviors like substance abuse and suicidal behavior, said Dr. Walkup, chair of the department of psychiatry at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

The focus of his presentation was on the treatment of anxiety disorders in children, but Dr. Walkup said the impact of the three-tier progression is likely relevant to any psychiatric disorder that begins in childhood.

In essence, the scope of problems becomes more complicated over time, and without early treatment, children continue to be symptomatic. But they also develop a lifestyle based on avoidance coping and might engage in maladaptive behaviors, Dr. Walkup said. As a result, the complexity of treatment increases substantially beyond just symptom control.

Providing an example, Dr. Walkup described a child of 7 years of age with separation anxiety. If treated at the time symptoms begin, Dr. Walkup explained, cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication would be expected to be both straightforward and highly effective. If left untreated until age 14, the child might accumulate impairment in independent functioning (due to avoidance coping) at a particularly important time in development.

“In those kids, you can reduce their anxiety burden with acute treatments like [cognitive-behavioral therapy] or meds, but now you also have 7 or 8 years of accumulated impairment due to avoidance coping and parental accommodation,” Dr. Walkup said. “If those kids are going to catch up developmentally, they also need life skill support in addition to symptomatic treatment for their anxiety.”

In the case of any pediatric psychiatric disorder, early treatment has the potential to thwart progression to a more complex and treatment-resistant form, but anxiety is a particularly prominent example. In most children, anxiety is relatively easy to control if caught early but a greater challenge when fears are not contained and the child accumulates ongoing impairment.

The obstacle is that many children are not diagnosed at the time of onset, said Dr. Walkup. The solution, he suggested, is better training of pediatricians and other primary care physicians not only to identify those children but to initiate treatment in uncomplicated cases.

“The person who has that longitudinal relationship with the child is their primary care provider, and this is really the person who is going to do the best job in getting to these kids early and initiating treatment,” Dr. Walkup said.

“We have a program in Chicago where we have trained primary care physicians not only to treat anxiety and depression, but we have specifically focused them on the easiest cases in their caseload, the classic phenotypes,” Dr. Walkup reported. Using a collaborative care model, this approach has been effective in building the confidence of primary care clinicians and in reaching children when symptoms are easier to control.

Importantly, anti-anxiety medication delivered in primary care could be sufficient to help children to manage anxiety effectively when parents cooperate in helping their children manage their fears.

“People suggest that we always start with CBT, but there [are no data] to support that. I think it is a conclusion drawn from the fact that CBT works and medication has side effects,” Dr. Walkup said. He appreciates the evidence that CBT is effective, but he cautioned that this therapy is not available everywhere, and pharmacologic therapies may be as or potentially more effective for some anxiety symptoms like anxiety-related physical symptoms.
 

Conversely, some have expressed the opinion that drugs might be a better option in late adolescence, when the efficacy of CBT appears to diminish, but Dr. Walkup objected to that characterization as well.

“My sense is that if you treat a 7-year-old for symptoms that have lasted a year it’s very different from treating a 17-year-old who has had symptoms for a decade,” Dr. Walkup said. Referring back to the contention that psychiatric disease in children becomes more complicated with a longer duration, this might explain why “you don’t see as much immediate success” with CBT and medication in the older age groups even if this is an effective treatment tool.

Some psychiatric disorders in children, including anxiety, might resolve with age, but early recognition and treatment should be a goal because of the potential to reduce symptoms and avoidance coping, and improve long-term outcomes, Dr. Walkup reported. Ironically, it might not be just anxiety symptoms, but poor adaptation and coping that might be the most important driver of ongoing impairment.

Dr. Walkup has served as an unpaid adviser to the Anxiety Disorders of Association of America. In addition, he has received royalties from Wolters Kluwer for CME activity on childhood anxiety.

This story was updated 2/11/2019.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – As a target of therapy in children with a psychiatric disorder, irritability expressed as grumpy mood or anger should be uncoupled from irritability expressed as threatening behavior, according to an exploration of this common clinical issue at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Ted Bosworth/MDedge News

“Irritability is like fever,” reported Gabrielle A. Carlson, MD, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook. “It is a nonspecific symptom that only tells you that something is wrong.”

Irritability might be nothing more than a negative mood, but it also can be the source of explosive aggression, leading to tantrums and destructive behaviors, according to Dr. Carlson. She placed them into two different categories when considering treatment. Irritability leading to annoyance, grumpiness, withdrawal, or persistent anger is characterized as the “internalizing” or “tonic” form of the symptom. As opposed to the aggressive subtype, the tonic form is more closely associated with depression or anxiety. Irritability leading to extreme verbal outbursts or physical violence is characterized as the “externalizing” or “phasic” form, Dr. Carlson said. This type of irritability, defined by behavior more than mood, might signal disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). But it is important to recognize that DMDD can overlap with other conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and autism spectrum disorders.

In defining the impact of treatments on tonic versus phasic symptoms of irritability within the context of the underlying diagnoses, studies have not done a good job in separating relative effects on the two key forms of irritability, Dr. Carlson said.

“Irritability needs to be measured not only by how one feels but what one does,” said Dr. Carlson, explaining that the impact of therapy has not always been adequately described in therapy studies.

For the tonic form, irritability is likely to improve or resolve with control of the underlying psychiatric condition. Although this might also be true of the phasic form, this type of irritability often accompanies conditions that are less readily controlled even through the threat of self-harm, harm to others, or other destructive behaviors invites intervention specifically targeted at this symptom.

Unfortunately, the best approach to irritability is unclear for many underling pathologies.

“Clinicians should recognize that empirical evidence is still lacking as to aggression-targeted treatments with favorable benefit-risk profiles for children and adolescents with ADHD and severe aggression,” said Dr. Carlson, providing ADHD as one of several examples.

Psychological interventions, such as dialectical behavior therapy in children (DBT-C), have been associated with control of both tonic and phasic forms of irritability, but Dr. Carlson cautioned that few studies have adequately differentiated improvement in irritability as measured by behavior relative to mood. In addition, the baseline severity and the degree to which improvement meant adequate control have been unclear.

“Many psychological treatments are school based or group delivered, making it likely that patients are less impaired than explosive kids in psychiatry clinics and hospitals,” Dr. Carlson said.

Providing some practical tips for addressing the phasic form of irritability, Dr. Carlson suggested keeping careful records of the frequency, intensity, number, and duration of disruptive outbursts. She advised clinicians to “maximize the treatment of the base condition” but to add pharmacologic therapies to psychological interventions if symptoms persist.

“Our pendulum has swung from dishing out atypicals to eschewing them completely,” Dr. Carlson noted. Although she agreed these are no longer appropriate as first-line therapies, she suggested they might be employed judiciously if weight gain is monitored carefully.

“If they don’t work, stop them. If they do work, try to limit the duration of use,” Dr. Carlson said.

She reported having no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – As a target of therapy in children with a psychiatric disorder, irritability expressed as grumpy mood or anger should be uncoupled from irritability expressed as threatening behavior, according to an exploration of this common clinical issue at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Ted Bosworth/MDedge News

“Irritability is like fever,” reported Gabrielle A. Carlson, MD, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook. “It is a nonspecific symptom that only tells you that something is wrong.”

Irritability might be nothing more than a negative mood, but it also can be the source of explosive aggression, leading to tantrums and destructive behaviors, according to Dr. Carlson. She placed them into two different categories when considering treatment. Irritability leading to annoyance, grumpiness, withdrawal, or persistent anger is characterized as the “internalizing” or “tonic” form of the symptom. As opposed to the aggressive subtype, the tonic form is more closely associated with depression or anxiety. Irritability leading to extreme verbal outbursts or physical violence is characterized as the “externalizing” or “phasic” form, Dr. Carlson said. This type of irritability, defined by behavior more than mood, might signal disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). But it is important to recognize that DMDD can overlap with other conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and autism spectrum disorders.

In defining the impact of treatments on tonic versus phasic symptoms of irritability within the context of the underlying diagnoses, studies have not done a good job in separating relative effects on the two key forms of irritability, Dr. Carlson said.

“Irritability needs to be measured not only by how one feels but what one does,” said Dr. Carlson, explaining that the impact of therapy has not always been adequately described in therapy studies.

For the tonic form, irritability is likely to improve or resolve with control of the underlying psychiatric condition. Although this might also be true of the phasic form, this type of irritability often accompanies conditions that are less readily controlled even through the threat of self-harm, harm to others, or other destructive behaviors invites intervention specifically targeted at this symptom.

Unfortunately, the best approach to irritability is unclear for many underling pathologies.

“Clinicians should recognize that empirical evidence is still lacking as to aggression-targeted treatments with favorable benefit-risk profiles for children and adolescents with ADHD and severe aggression,” said Dr. Carlson, providing ADHD as one of several examples.

Psychological interventions, such as dialectical behavior therapy in children (DBT-C), have been associated with control of both tonic and phasic forms of irritability, but Dr. Carlson cautioned that few studies have adequately differentiated improvement in irritability as measured by behavior relative to mood. In addition, the baseline severity and the degree to which improvement meant adequate control have been unclear.

“Many psychological treatments are school based or group delivered, making it likely that patients are less impaired than explosive kids in psychiatry clinics and hospitals,” Dr. Carlson said.

Providing some practical tips for addressing the phasic form of irritability, Dr. Carlson suggested keeping careful records of the frequency, intensity, number, and duration of disruptive outbursts. She advised clinicians to “maximize the treatment of the base condition” but to add pharmacologic therapies to psychological interventions if symptoms persist.

“Our pendulum has swung from dishing out atypicals to eschewing them completely,” Dr. Carlson noted. Although she agreed these are no longer appropriate as first-line therapies, she suggested they might be employed judiciously if weight gain is monitored carefully.

“If they don’t work, stop them. If they do work, try to limit the duration of use,” Dr. Carlson said.

She reported having no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – As a target of therapy in children with a psychiatric disorder, irritability expressed as grumpy mood or anger should be uncoupled from irritability expressed as threatening behavior, according to an exploration of this common clinical issue at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Ted Bosworth/MDedge News

“Irritability is like fever,” reported Gabrielle A. Carlson, MD, professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, State University of New York at Stony Brook. “It is a nonspecific symptom that only tells you that something is wrong.”

Irritability might be nothing more than a negative mood, but it also can be the source of explosive aggression, leading to tantrums and destructive behaviors, according to Dr. Carlson. She placed them into two different categories when considering treatment. Irritability leading to annoyance, grumpiness, withdrawal, or persistent anger is characterized as the “internalizing” or “tonic” form of the symptom. As opposed to the aggressive subtype, the tonic form is more closely associated with depression or anxiety. Irritability leading to extreme verbal outbursts or physical violence is characterized as the “externalizing” or “phasic” form, Dr. Carlson said. This type of irritability, defined by behavior more than mood, might signal disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). But it is important to recognize that DMDD can overlap with other conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and autism spectrum disorders.

In defining the impact of treatments on tonic versus phasic symptoms of irritability within the context of the underlying diagnoses, studies have not done a good job in separating relative effects on the two key forms of irritability, Dr. Carlson said.

“Irritability needs to be measured not only by how one feels but what one does,” said Dr. Carlson, explaining that the impact of therapy has not always been adequately described in therapy studies.

For the tonic form, irritability is likely to improve or resolve with control of the underlying psychiatric condition. Although this might also be true of the phasic form, this type of irritability often accompanies conditions that are less readily controlled even through the threat of self-harm, harm to others, or other destructive behaviors invites intervention specifically targeted at this symptom.

Unfortunately, the best approach to irritability is unclear for many underling pathologies.

“Clinicians should recognize that empirical evidence is still lacking as to aggression-targeted treatments with favorable benefit-risk profiles for children and adolescents with ADHD and severe aggression,” said Dr. Carlson, providing ADHD as one of several examples.

Psychological interventions, such as dialectical behavior therapy in children (DBT-C), have been associated with control of both tonic and phasic forms of irritability, but Dr. Carlson cautioned that few studies have adequately differentiated improvement in irritability as measured by behavior relative to mood. In addition, the baseline severity and the degree to which improvement meant adequate control have been unclear.

“Many psychological treatments are school based or group delivered, making it likely that patients are less impaired than explosive kids in psychiatry clinics and hospitals,” Dr. Carlson said.

Providing some practical tips for addressing the phasic form of irritability, Dr. Carlson suggested keeping careful records of the frequency, intensity, number, and duration of disruptive outbursts. She advised clinicians to “maximize the treatment of the base condition” but to add pharmacologic therapies to psychological interventions if symptoms persist.

“Our pendulum has swung from dishing out atypicals to eschewing them completely,” Dr. Carlson noted. Although she agreed these are no longer appropriate as first-line therapies, she suggested they might be employed judiciously if weight gain is monitored carefully.

“If they don’t work, stop them. If they do work, try to limit the duration of use,” Dr. Carlson said.

She reported having no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The legalization of marijuana almost certainly will complicate the treatment of substance use disorder in adolescents, particularly when SUD occurs as a comorbidity of bipolar disorder or other psychiatric diseases, according to an expert review at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The full effects of marijuana legalization on SUD have not yet been comprehensively studied in children or adults, but the consequences of easier access, diminished stigma, and potential for a diminished sense of harm are widely considered to be an important obstacle to successful therapy in children, said Timothy E. Wilens, MD, chief of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Comorbid substance use in children with mood disorders or ADHD has long been understood as a form of self-medication. However, use of marijuana, alcohol, or other mood-altering drugs also are known to interfere with treatment, Dr. Wilens said.

The problem is common among adults as well, but adolescents pose a greater challenge.

“Youths are more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder because reward pathways develop before control pathways,” Dr. Wilens said. He cited data showing that about half of individuals who develop SUD, many of whom have other psychiatric diagnoses, do so by age 18 years, and 80% do so by age 26 years.

“Substance use disorder is a pediatric issue,” he emphasized.

The problem with legalization of marijuana is that adolescents are likely to conclude that what is safe for adults is safe for children. Citing a study that associated increased use of marijuana with reduced perception of harm (and the opposite), Dr. Wilens predicted that adolescents with comorbid SUD would resist treatment.

Because of those concerns, Massachusetts General Hospital, which is based in a state where recreational marijuana use is permitted, has issued a position statement. The statement endorses the study of marijuana for benefit and for harm but expresses specific concern about “the recreational use of marijuana at any age because of the potential downstream effects on children.”

Dr. Wilens expressed particular concern about parental use of marijuana in front of children because of the implication that it is safe and acceptable. For children at risk of comorbid substance use because of a mood disorder, he cautioned parents against even concealed use of marijuana because of the low likelihood that it will go unnoticed.

“Substance use disorders are associated with a more pernicious and longer course in adolescents than children,” said Dr. Wilens, paraphrasing one of the bullet points from the Massachusetts General position statement, which outlines the potential harms for children. Another of the bullet points maintains, “there are known structural and functional brain changes” that have been documented when marijuana use begins in childhood.

Citing a correlation between parental and adolescent marijuana use, Dr. Wilens said the legalization of marijuana appears destined to exacerbate the already considerable challenge of substance use in children. He noted that a very high proportion of adolescents with or without mood disorders experiment with marijuana at some point in high school, so there already is resistance to a characterization that it is harmful.

A realistic approach is therefore required in helping adolescents with comorbid substance use to curb this form of self-medication. It is essential to set priorities, he said, when treating adolescents with SUD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. “Don’t even think about treating substance use disorder until you treat the bipolar disease,” he said.

As the symptoms are relieved, the need for self-medication is likely to diminish, but Dr. Wilens cautioned against being too rigid when helping adolescents move away from marijuana and alcohol. He believes a zero tolerance approach can be counterproductive. Rather, he advocates a “harm reduction” approach in which adolescents agree to reasonable reductions, like avoiding marijuana during the week, while they eliminate dependence.

In an overview of pharmacotherapy to reduce cravings for drugs, he cited evidence, as well as personal experience, that over-the-counter N-acetylcysteine can be a useful tool. However, adolescents in particular should be warned about the pungent smell, which has been a barrier to adherence. He also suggested that psychotherapy, with or without pharmacotherapy, is helpful.

Treatment of comorbid SUD is a critical part of achieving control of accompanying psychiatric diseases, but this task might be complicated by legalized recreational marijuana, Dr. Wilens concluded. He encouraged clinicians to recognize that challenge.

Dr. Wilens reported financial relationships with Ironshore Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, KemPharm, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical.
 

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The legalization of marijuana almost certainly will complicate the treatment of substance use disorder in adolescents, particularly when SUD occurs as a comorbidity of bipolar disorder or other psychiatric diseases, according to an expert review at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The full effects of marijuana legalization on SUD have not yet been comprehensively studied in children or adults, but the consequences of easier access, diminished stigma, and potential for a diminished sense of harm are widely considered to be an important obstacle to successful therapy in children, said Timothy E. Wilens, MD, chief of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Comorbid substance use in children with mood disorders or ADHD has long been understood as a form of self-medication. However, use of marijuana, alcohol, or other mood-altering drugs also are known to interfere with treatment, Dr. Wilens said.

The problem is common among adults as well, but adolescents pose a greater challenge.

“Youths are more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder because reward pathways develop before control pathways,” Dr. Wilens said. He cited data showing that about half of individuals who develop SUD, many of whom have other psychiatric diagnoses, do so by age 18 years, and 80% do so by age 26 years.

“Substance use disorder is a pediatric issue,” he emphasized.

The problem with legalization of marijuana is that adolescents are likely to conclude that what is safe for adults is safe for children. Citing a study that associated increased use of marijuana with reduced perception of harm (and the opposite), Dr. Wilens predicted that adolescents with comorbid SUD would resist treatment.

Because of those concerns, Massachusetts General Hospital, which is based in a state where recreational marijuana use is permitted, has issued a position statement. The statement endorses the study of marijuana for benefit and for harm but expresses specific concern about “the recreational use of marijuana at any age because of the potential downstream effects on children.”

Dr. Wilens expressed particular concern about parental use of marijuana in front of children because of the implication that it is safe and acceptable. For children at risk of comorbid substance use because of a mood disorder, he cautioned parents against even concealed use of marijuana because of the low likelihood that it will go unnoticed.

“Substance use disorders are associated with a more pernicious and longer course in adolescents than children,” said Dr. Wilens, paraphrasing one of the bullet points from the Massachusetts General position statement, which outlines the potential harms for children. Another of the bullet points maintains, “there are known structural and functional brain changes” that have been documented when marijuana use begins in childhood.

Citing a correlation between parental and adolescent marijuana use, Dr. Wilens said the legalization of marijuana appears destined to exacerbate the already considerable challenge of substance use in children. He noted that a very high proportion of adolescents with or without mood disorders experiment with marijuana at some point in high school, so there already is resistance to a characterization that it is harmful.

A realistic approach is therefore required in helping adolescents with comorbid substance use to curb this form of self-medication. It is essential to set priorities, he said, when treating adolescents with SUD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. “Don’t even think about treating substance use disorder until you treat the bipolar disease,” he said.

As the symptoms are relieved, the need for self-medication is likely to diminish, but Dr. Wilens cautioned against being too rigid when helping adolescents move away from marijuana and alcohol. He believes a zero tolerance approach can be counterproductive. Rather, he advocates a “harm reduction” approach in which adolescents agree to reasonable reductions, like avoiding marijuana during the week, while they eliminate dependence.

In an overview of pharmacotherapy to reduce cravings for drugs, he cited evidence, as well as personal experience, that over-the-counter N-acetylcysteine can be a useful tool. However, adolescents in particular should be warned about the pungent smell, which has been a barrier to adherence. He also suggested that psychotherapy, with or without pharmacotherapy, is helpful.

Treatment of comorbid SUD is a critical part of achieving control of accompanying psychiatric diseases, but this task might be complicated by legalized recreational marijuana, Dr. Wilens concluded. He encouraged clinicians to recognize that challenge.

Dr. Wilens reported financial relationships with Ironshore Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, KemPharm, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical.
 

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The legalization of marijuana almost certainly will complicate the treatment of substance use disorder in adolescents, particularly when SUD occurs as a comorbidity of bipolar disorder or other psychiatric diseases, according to an expert review at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

The full effects of marijuana legalization on SUD have not yet been comprehensively studied in children or adults, but the consequences of easier access, diminished stigma, and potential for a diminished sense of harm are widely considered to be an important obstacle to successful therapy in children, said Timothy E. Wilens, MD, chief of the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Comorbid substance use in children with mood disorders or ADHD has long been understood as a form of self-medication. However, use of marijuana, alcohol, or other mood-altering drugs also are known to interfere with treatment, Dr. Wilens said.

The problem is common among adults as well, but adolescents pose a greater challenge.

“Youths are more vulnerable to developing a substance use disorder because reward pathways develop before control pathways,” Dr. Wilens said. He cited data showing that about half of individuals who develop SUD, many of whom have other psychiatric diagnoses, do so by age 18 years, and 80% do so by age 26 years.

“Substance use disorder is a pediatric issue,” he emphasized.

The problem with legalization of marijuana is that adolescents are likely to conclude that what is safe for adults is safe for children. Citing a study that associated increased use of marijuana with reduced perception of harm (and the opposite), Dr. Wilens predicted that adolescents with comorbid SUD would resist treatment.

Because of those concerns, Massachusetts General Hospital, which is based in a state where recreational marijuana use is permitted, has issued a position statement. The statement endorses the study of marijuana for benefit and for harm but expresses specific concern about “the recreational use of marijuana at any age because of the potential downstream effects on children.”

Dr. Wilens expressed particular concern about parental use of marijuana in front of children because of the implication that it is safe and acceptable. For children at risk of comorbid substance use because of a mood disorder, he cautioned parents against even concealed use of marijuana because of the low likelihood that it will go unnoticed.

“Substance use disorders are associated with a more pernicious and longer course in adolescents than children,” said Dr. Wilens, paraphrasing one of the bullet points from the Massachusetts General position statement, which outlines the potential harms for children. Another of the bullet points maintains, “there are known structural and functional brain changes” that have been documented when marijuana use begins in childhood.

Citing a correlation between parental and adolescent marijuana use, Dr. Wilens said the legalization of marijuana appears destined to exacerbate the already considerable challenge of substance use in children. He noted that a very high proportion of adolescents with or without mood disorders experiment with marijuana at some point in high school, so there already is resistance to a characterization that it is harmful.

A realistic approach is therefore required in helping adolescents with comorbid substance use to curb this form of self-medication. It is essential to set priorities, he said, when treating adolescents with SUD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. “Don’t even think about treating substance use disorder until you treat the bipolar disease,” he said.

As the symptoms are relieved, the need for self-medication is likely to diminish, but Dr. Wilens cautioned against being too rigid when helping adolescents move away from marijuana and alcohol. He believes a zero tolerance approach can be counterproductive. Rather, he advocates a “harm reduction” approach in which adolescents agree to reasonable reductions, like avoiding marijuana during the week, while they eliminate dependence.

In an overview of pharmacotherapy to reduce cravings for drugs, he cited evidence, as well as personal experience, that over-the-counter N-acetylcysteine can be a useful tool. However, adolescents in particular should be warned about the pungent smell, which has been a barrier to adherence. He also suggested that psychotherapy, with or without pharmacotherapy, is helpful.

Treatment of comorbid SUD is a critical part of achieving control of accompanying psychiatric diseases, but this task might be complicated by legalized recreational marijuana, Dr. Wilens concluded. He encouraged clinicians to recognize that challenge.

Dr. Wilens reported financial relationships with Ironshore Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, KemPharm, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical.
 

Brooklyn, N.Y. – A risk calculator for bipolar disorder that has reached late stages of development might merit a trial to test whether treating prodromal symptoms delays or prevents the disease from developing in young patients, an expert said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Clinicians often are confronted with children who have prodromal symptoms of bipolar disorder, but only about half of those children eventually convert to full disease expression. As a result, treatment is not routine practice, said Boris Birmaher, MD, Endowed Chair, Early Onset Bipolar Disease, at the University of Pittsburgh.

A risk calculator that more effectively identifies those at highest risk of converting might be a tool that could allow early intervention to be tested. Such a calculator has been in development for some years, and the most recent research suggests that it is nearing a degree of accuracy that is clinically meaningful (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57:755-63).

“The accuracy of this risk calculator at this moment is 70%,” Dr. Birmaher reported.

Accuracy might improve further with the identification and incorporation of more predictive variables. High-risk features for conversion include a parent with bipolar disorder, particularly one with childhood onset, and specific clinical features, such as prominent episodes of mania.

“Once replicated, the risk calculator will be instrumental to predict personalized risk to develop bipolar disease,” Dr. Birmaher said. He compared it to risk calculators now in use in other fields of medicine, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, which generate information used by patients and their physicians for treatment decisions.

In the most recent study with the risk calculator, which has been the topic of several previous publications, 140 children with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) were assessed every 7 months for a median of 11.5 years. BP-NOS is the diagnosis of a prodromal syndrome that includes mood lability and other features of bipolar disorder but not at levels reaching DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The primary outcome of the study was conversion from BP-NOS to bipolar I or II, which are DSM-5 categories.

At the end of follow-up, 53.6% of the population had converted to bipolar I or II, which is consistent with previous risk estimates in this population. In specific patients, the correlation between predicted and observed conversions was “excellent.” Furthermore, the risk calculator was reported to have provided “good” discrimination between converters and nonconverters.

The risk calculator already is accessible online (http://www.cabsresearch.pitt.edu/bpriskcalculator/). Dr. Birmaher invited clinicians to visit and “play around” with its features, but he also issued a warning. “Be careful because we need to further validate this, which we are doing now, to see if it’s truly accurate or not. If it is, it would be a very good tool for us,” he said.

There are many potential clinical applications of the risk calculator, but Dr. Birmaher emphasized its possible value in selecting at-risk patients for therapy studies. Although several therapy trials already have been conducted in high-risk children on the basis of clinical presentation alone, such as a double-blind trial in BP-NOS patients that associated aripiprazole with a reduction in mania (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2017;27:864-74), Dr. Birmaher sees the risk calculator as potentially more precise in identifying candidates.

Brooklyn, N.Y. – A risk calculator for bipolar disorder that has reached late stages of development might merit a trial to test whether treating prodromal symptoms delays or prevents the disease from developing in young patients, an expert said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Clinicians often are confronted with children who have prodromal symptoms of bipolar disorder, but only about half of those children eventually convert to full disease expression. As a result, treatment is not routine practice, said Boris Birmaher, MD, Endowed Chair, Early Onset Bipolar Disease, at the University of Pittsburgh.

A risk calculator that more effectively identifies those at highest risk of converting might be a tool that could allow early intervention to be tested. Such a calculator has been in development for some years, and the most recent research suggests that it is nearing a degree of accuracy that is clinically meaningful (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57:755-63).

“The accuracy of this risk calculator at this moment is 70%,” Dr. Birmaher reported.

Accuracy might improve further with the identification and incorporation of more predictive variables. High-risk features for conversion include a parent with bipolar disorder, particularly one with childhood onset, and specific clinical features, such as prominent episodes of mania.

“Once replicated, the risk calculator will be instrumental to predict personalized risk to develop bipolar disease,” Dr. Birmaher said. He compared it to risk calculators now in use in other fields of medicine, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, which generate information used by patients and their physicians for treatment decisions.

In the most recent study with the risk calculator, which has been the topic of several previous publications, 140 children with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) were assessed every 7 months for a median of 11.5 years. BP-NOS is the diagnosis of a prodromal syndrome that includes mood lability and other features of bipolar disorder but not at levels reaching DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The primary outcome of the study was conversion from BP-NOS to bipolar I or II, which are DSM-5 categories.

At the end of follow-up, 53.6% of the population had converted to bipolar I or II, which is consistent with previous risk estimates in this population. In specific patients, the correlation between predicted and observed conversions was “excellent.” Furthermore, the risk calculator was reported to have provided “good” discrimination between converters and nonconverters.

The risk calculator already is accessible online (http://www.cabsresearch.pitt.edu/bpriskcalculator/). Dr. Birmaher invited clinicians to visit and “play around” with its features, but he also issued a warning. “Be careful because we need to further validate this, which we are doing now, to see if it’s truly accurate or not. If it is, it would be a very good tool for us,” he said.

There are many potential clinical applications of the risk calculator, but Dr. Birmaher emphasized its possible value in selecting at-risk patients for therapy studies. Although several therapy trials already have been conducted in high-risk children on the basis of clinical presentation alone, such as a double-blind trial in BP-NOS patients that associated aripiprazole with a reduction in mania (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2017;27:864-74), Dr. Birmaher sees the risk calculator as potentially more precise in identifying candidates.

Brooklyn, N.Y. – A risk calculator for bipolar disorder that has reached late stages of development might merit a trial to test whether treating prodromal symptoms delays or prevents the disease from developing in young patients, an expert said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Clinicians often are confronted with children who have prodromal symptoms of bipolar disorder, but only about half of those children eventually convert to full disease expression. As a result, treatment is not routine practice, said Boris Birmaher, MD, Endowed Chair, Early Onset Bipolar Disease, at the University of Pittsburgh.

A risk calculator that more effectively identifies those at highest risk of converting might be a tool that could allow early intervention to be tested. Such a calculator has been in development for some years, and the most recent research suggests that it is nearing a degree of accuracy that is clinically meaningful (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2018;57:755-63).

“The accuracy of this risk calculator at this moment is 70%,” Dr. Birmaher reported.

Accuracy might improve further with the identification and incorporation of more predictive variables. High-risk features for conversion include a parent with bipolar disorder, particularly one with childhood onset, and specific clinical features, such as prominent episodes of mania.

“Once replicated, the risk calculator will be instrumental to predict personalized risk to develop bipolar disease,” Dr. Birmaher said. He compared it to risk calculators now in use in other fields of medicine, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, which generate information used by patients and their physicians for treatment decisions.

In the most recent study with the risk calculator, which has been the topic of several previous publications, 140 children with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BP-NOS) were assessed every 7 months for a median of 11.5 years. BP-NOS is the diagnosis of a prodromal syndrome that includes mood lability and other features of bipolar disorder but not at levels reaching DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The primary outcome of the study was conversion from BP-NOS to bipolar I or II, which are DSM-5 categories.

At the end of follow-up, 53.6% of the population had converted to bipolar I or II, which is consistent with previous risk estimates in this population. In specific patients, the correlation between predicted and observed conversions was “excellent.” Furthermore, the risk calculator was reported to have provided “good” discrimination between converters and nonconverters.

The risk calculator already is accessible online (http://www.cabsresearch.pitt.edu/bpriskcalculator/). Dr. Birmaher invited clinicians to visit and “play around” with its features, but he also issued a warning. “Be careful because we need to further validate this, which we are doing now, to see if it’s truly accurate or not. If it is, it would be a very good tool for us,” he said.

There are many potential clinical applications of the risk calculator, but Dr. Birmaher emphasized its possible value in selecting at-risk patients for therapy studies. Although several therapy trials already have been conducted in high-risk children on the basis of clinical presentation alone, such as a double-blind trial in BP-NOS patients that associated aripiprazole with a reduction in mania (J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2017;27:864-74), Dr. Birmaher sees the risk calculator as potentially more precise in identifying candidates.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Intervening effectively for children and adolescents at suicide risk involves watching for triggers such as personal loss, sleep disturbances, or interpersonal conflict, an expert said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

It is important to distinguish the distal risks, which are factors known to increase suicidal ideation, and proximal risk factors, which predict attempts, according to Tina R. Goldstein, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We know that the optimal targets for preventing suicidal behavior are proximal,” Dr. Goldstein said. Treatment of distal risks, such as depression or substance use, is a foundation for risk management, but suicidal events are driven by acute crises that appear to require individualized intervention.

Dr. Goldstein said she had just “one sad slide” to summarize drug treatments aimed at controlling suicidal behavior. That slide included citations for studies associating neuroleptics and antidepressants with a reduction in aggressive or impulsive behavior in children. The only study associating a drug with a reduction in suicide attempts was performed with lithium in adults.

However, intensive cognitive and dialectical behavior interventions involving the family have been shown to reduce suicide attempts in randomized controlled trials, said Dr. Goldstein, who also is affiliated with the university’s Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services Research Program. Those trials underscore the messages that personalizing therapy is essential, as are addressing specific triggers and helping patients develop defenses against suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Goldstein described a recently published, National Institutes of Health–funded study that focused on suicide reduction. The study was conducted in adolescents who were being discharged from a brief hospitalization for acute suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt (J Adolesc Health. 2018 Nov. 8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.09.015). “We know that there is this really high-risk period after discharge from the hospital for which we could potentially do things better,” said Dr. Goldstein, whose center was involved in the study.

The tested intervention, called As Safe As Possible (ASAP), involved “front-loading some coping skills and giving [the patients] a good safety plan even before they are discharged,” Dr. Goldstein said. For risk management after discharge, the adolescents were provided with a smartphone app called BRITE that contained the safety plan as well as a summary of personalized coping skills, including reminders that the patients themselves had provided for reasons for living. The app was augmented as appropriate with favorite songs, photos of the patients’ pet, or other customized aids to provide support during the typical delay between the time of discharge and the next step in care.

In 6 months of follow-up, the rate of suicide attempts was 8.7% of those enrolled in the intensive outpatient program, compared with 27.3% (P = .08) for those who received treatment as usual. Dr. Goldstein called this trend promising, particularly in the context of other favorable results, including a significantly longer (P = .03) time to a suicide attempt in the ASAP group.

In patients at imminent risk of a suicide attempt, it is logical to assume that treatment must be personalized to the issues behind increased suicidal ideation. However, a study published by Dr. Goldstein and her associates several years ago suggested that evidence of deteriorating mental health can signal a need for intensification of suicide risk management (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69:1113-22). In one part of that study, risk factors for suicide were evaluated in the 8 weeks before a suicide attempt in 413 children with bipolar disorder. During that time, depression scores increased as did substance use, but, surprisingly, so did use of mental health services.

“The way we have come to think of these data is that the kids, their parents, and their providers were recognizing that things were getting worse and they needed more services,” Dr. Goldstein said. “The bad news is that the services we were giving them were not particularly effective.”

Those data underscore some of the challenges facing clinicians who treat pediatric patients with mental illness. “Our field has not yet developed ... gold standard treatments for preventing suicidal behavior in kids with mood disorder,” Dr. Goldstein said. However, she thinks that some progress has been made and that some of the personalized approaches are demonstrating efficacy – particularly in children and adolescents who exhibit signs of imminent risk.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Intervening effectively for children and adolescents at suicide risk involves watching for triggers such as personal loss, sleep disturbances, or interpersonal conflict, an expert said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

It is important to distinguish the distal risks, which are factors known to increase suicidal ideation, and proximal risk factors, which predict attempts, according to Tina R. Goldstein, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We know that the optimal targets for preventing suicidal behavior are proximal,” Dr. Goldstein said. Treatment of distal risks, such as depression or substance use, is a foundation for risk management, but suicidal events are driven by acute crises that appear to require individualized intervention.

Dr. Goldstein said she had just “one sad slide” to summarize drug treatments aimed at controlling suicidal behavior. That slide included citations for studies associating neuroleptics and antidepressants with a reduction in aggressive or impulsive behavior in children. The only study associating a drug with a reduction in suicide attempts was performed with lithium in adults.

However, intensive cognitive and dialectical behavior interventions involving the family have been shown to reduce suicide attempts in randomized controlled trials, said Dr. Goldstein, who also is affiliated with the university’s Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services Research Program. Those trials underscore the messages that personalizing therapy is essential, as are addressing specific triggers and helping patients develop defenses against suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Goldstein described a recently published, National Institutes of Health–funded study that focused on suicide reduction. The study was conducted in adolescents who were being discharged from a brief hospitalization for acute suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt (J Adolesc Health. 2018 Nov. 8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.09.015). “We know that there is this really high-risk period after discharge from the hospital for which we could potentially do things better,” said Dr. Goldstein, whose center was involved in the study.

The tested intervention, called As Safe As Possible (ASAP), involved “front-loading some coping skills and giving [the patients] a good safety plan even before they are discharged,” Dr. Goldstein said. For risk management after discharge, the adolescents were provided with a smartphone app called BRITE that contained the safety plan as well as a summary of personalized coping skills, including reminders that the patients themselves had provided for reasons for living. The app was augmented as appropriate with favorite songs, photos of the patients’ pet, or other customized aids to provide support during the typical delay between the time of discharge and the next step in care.

In 6 months of follow-up, the rate of suicide attempts was 8.7% of those enrolled in the intensive outpatient program, compared with 27.3% (P = .08) for those who received treatment as usual. Dr. Goldstein called this trend promising, particularly in the context of other favorable results, including a significantly longer (P = .03) time to a suicide attempt in the ASAP group.

In patients at imminent risk of a suicide attempt, it is logical to assume that treatment must be personalized to the issues behind increased suicidal ideation. However, a study published by Dr. Goldstein and her associates several years ago suggested that evidence of deteriorating mental health can signal a need for intensification of suicide risk management (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69:1113-22). In one part of that study, risk factors for suicide were evaluated in the 8 weeks before a suicide attempt in 413 children with bipolar disorder. During that time, depression scores increased as did substance use, but, surprisingly, so did use of mental health services.

“The way we have come to think of these data is that the kids, their parents, and their providers were recognizing that things were getting worse and they needed more services,” Dr. Goldstein said. “The bad news is that the services we were giving them were not particularly effective.”

Those data underscore some of the challenges facing clinicians who treat pediatric patients with mental illness. “Our field has not yet developed ... gold standard treatments for preventing suicidal behavior in kids with mood disorder,” Dr. Goldstein said. However, she thinks that some progress has been made and that some of the personalized approaches are demonstrating efficacy – particularly in children and adolescents who exhibit signs of imminent risk.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Intervening effectively for children and adolescents at suicide risk involves watching for triggers such as personal loss, sleep disturbances, or interpersonal conflict, an expert said at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

It is important to distinguish the distal risks, which are factors known to increase suicidal ideation, and proximal risk factors, which predict attempts, according to Tina R. Goldstein, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. “We know that the optimal targets for preventing suicidal behavior are proximal,” Dr. Goldstein said. Treatment of distal risks, such as depression or substance use, is a foundation for risk management, but suicidal events are driven by acute crises that appear to require individualized intervention.

Dr. Goldstein said she had just “one sad slide” to summarize drug treatments aimed at controlling suicidal behavior. That slide included citations for studies associating neuroleptics and antidepressants with a reduction in aggressive or impulsive behavior in children. The only study associating a drug with a reduction in suicide attempts was performed with lithium in adults.

However, intensive cognitive and dialectical behavior interventions involving the family have been shown to reduce suicide attempts in randomized controlled trials, said Dr. Goldstein, who also is affiliated with the university’s Child and Adolescent Bipolar Spectrum Services Research Program. Those trials underscore the messages that personalizing therapy is essential, as are addressing specific triggers and helping patients develop defenses against suicidal thoughts.

Dr. Goldstein described a recently published, National Institutes of Health–funded study that focused on suicide reduction. The study was conducted in adolescents who were being discharged from a brief hospitalization for acute suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt (J Adolesc Health. 2018 Nov. 8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.09.015). “We know that there is this really high-risk period after discharge from the hospital for which we could potentially do things better,” said Dr. Goldstein, whose center was involved in the study.

The tested intervention, called As Safe As Possible (ASAP), involved “front-loading some coping skills and giving [the patients] a good safety plan even before they are discharged,” Dr. Goldstein said. For risk management after discharge, the adolescents were provided with a smartphone app called BRITE that contained the safety plan as well as a summary of personalized coping skills, including reminders that the patients themselves had provided for reasons for living. The app was augmented as appropriate with favorite songs, photos of the patients’ pet, or other customized aids to provide support during the typical delay between the time of discharge and the next step in care.

In 6 months of follow-up, the rate of suicide attempts was 8.7% of those enrolled in the intensive outpatient program, compared with 27.3% (P = .08) for those who received treatment as usual. Dr. Goldstein called this trend promising, particularly in the context of other favorable results, including a significantly longer (P = .03) time to a suicide attempt in the ASAP group.

In patients at imminent risk of a suicide attempt, it is logical to assume that treatment must be personalized to the issues behind increased suicidal ideation. However, a study published by Dr. Goldstein and her associates several years ago suggested that evidence of deteriorating mental health can signal a need for intensification of suicide risk management (Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69:1113-22). In one part of that study, risk factors for suicide were evaluated in the 8 weeks before a suicide attempt in 413 children with bipolar disorder. During that time, depression scores increased as did substance use, but, surprisingly, so did use of mental health services.

“The way we have come to think of these data is that the kids, their parents, and their providers were recognizing that things were getting worse and they needed more services,” Dr. Goldstein said. “The bad news is that the services we were giving them were not particularly effective.”

Those data underscore some of the challenges facing clinicians who treat pediatric patients with mental illness. “Our field has not yet developed ... gold standard treatments for preventing suicidal behavior in kids with mood disorder,” Dr. Goldstein said. However, she thinks that some progress has been made and that some of the personalized approaches are demonstrating efficacy – particularly in children and adolescents who exhibit signs of imminent risk.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – There are studies demonstrating depression is more likely to resolve if depressed parents are also treated dating back more than 10 years, but new evidence suggests this effect may extend to children as young as 3 years of age, according to an update on current strategies for early intervention presented at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Of multiple triggers that can be caught and treated early to prevent children from progressing to chronic depression, addressing parental depression is an important target, according to Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

In an overview of strategies for intervening early in children who have or are at risk for depression, Dr. Wagner looked at several targets. The purpose of recognizing and addressing such targets as parental depression is to get children well faster and avoid disease chronicity.

“If we want to intervene and potentially prevent the occurrence of depression, we need to look at disorders or triggers that may precede the depression and that, had they been treated, might have eliminated the stressors that tip the child into depression,” Dr. Wagner said.

Parental depression was just one of these factors, but along with others, such as child abuse of any kind and bullying, each poses a threat for chronic mood disorders, according to Dr. Wagner.

In the case of parental depression, Dr. Wagner cited numerous studies demonstrating a close correlation between remission in the parent and remission in the child. These trajectories interact, so children are less likely to get well if an affected parent does not get well.

“Make sure you consider depression in the parent when you are doing an evaluation, and it is not just depression in the parent who is there. Ask about the other partner who is not there,” Dr. Wagner advised. Parents reluctant to address their own depression should be informed that the mental health of their child is at risk.

The most recent evidence to show benefit from treating both child and parent was drawn from a controlled study that enrolled young children (Luby JL et al. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 20. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18030321).

In this study, 229 parent-child dyads were randomized to receive parent-child psychotherapy for early childhood depression or to a wait-list. The age range for the children was 3-6.2 years. The therapy was specifically designed to improve the parents’ ability to help young children cope with their feelings.

The parent-child interaction therapy “focused on emotional development which was designed to train parents to work with the child on developing emotional competence in which the child understands their emotions, understands how events affect how they are feeling, and controls emotional reactivity,” Dr. Wagner explained.

For the primary outcome of depression at the end of 18 weeks, the rates were significantly lower in those who participated in the interaction therapy than they were in those on the wait-list. Measures of parent depression and stress were also lower in the therapy group.

Currently, the U. S. Preventive Task Force recommends screening all children at age 12 for depression with the adolescent version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A), according to Dr. Wagner. Given the rising prevalence of depression in adolescents, which climbed 46% from 2005 (8.7%) to 2015 (12.7%) according to a published national survey, this screening is prudent, Dr. Wagner indicated. However, she further suggested that it is reasonable to screen children with risk factors, such as learning disorders or anxiety disorders, even earlier.

The reason is that there are effective therapies. Early treatment may prevent chronic and more severe forms of depression, according to Dr. Wagner. She suggested that there is a growing emphasis on not just treating depression at its early stages but also in recognizing the child at risk, identifying subsyndromal symptoms leading toward depression, and preventing children from ever reaching diagnostic criteria.

Indeed, an initiative for better and earlier detection and treatment of depression in children was begun by the AACAP when Dr. Wagner served recently as its president. Several parts of that program have now been launched. Dr. Wagner encouraged those with an interest to visit the AACAP website, where more information about this initiative can be accessed.

Dr. Wagner reported no potential conflicts of interest.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – There are studies demonstrating depression is more likely to resolve if depressed parents are also treated dating back more than 10 years, but new evidence suggests this effect may extend to children as young as 3 years of age, according to an update on current strategies for early intervention presented at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Of multiple triggers that can be caught and treated early to prevent children from progressing to chronic depression, addressing parental depression is an important target, according to Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

In an overview of strategies for intervening early in children who have or are at risk for depression, Dr. Wagner looked at several targets. The purpose of recognizing and addressing such targets as parental depression is to get children well faster and avoid disease chronicity.

“If we want to intervene and potentially prevent the occurrence of depression, we need to look at disorders or triggers that may precede the depression and that, had they been treated, might have eliminated the stressors that tip the child into depression,” Dr. Wagner said.

Parental depression was just one of these factors, but along with others, such as child abuse of any kind and bullying, each poses a threat for chronic mood disorders, according to Dr. Wagner.

In the case of parental depression, Dr. Wagner cited numerous studies demonstrating a close correlation between remission in the parent and remission in the child. These trajectories interact, so children are less likely to get well if an affected parent does not get well.

“Make sure you consider depression in the parent when you are doing an evaluation, and it is not just depression in the parent who is there. Ask about the other partner who is not there,” Dr. Wagner advised. Parents reluctant to address their own depression should be informed that the mental health of their child is at risk.

The most recent evidence to show benefit from treating both child and parent was drawn from a controlled study that enrolled young children (Luby JL et al. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 20. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18030321).

In this study, 229 parent-child dyads were randomized to receive parent-child psychotherapy for early childhood depression or to a wait-list. The age range for the children was 3-6.2 years. The therapy was specifically designed to improve the parents’ ability to help young children cope with their feelings.

The parent-child interaction therapy “focused on emotional development which was designed to train parents to work with the child on developing emotional competence in which the child understands their emotions, understands how events affect how they are feeling, and controls emotional reactivity,” Dr. Wagner explained.

For the primary outcome of depression at the end of 18 weeks, the rates were significantly lower in those who participated in the interaction therapy than they were in those on the wait-list. Measures of parent depression and stress were also lower in the therapy group.

Currently, the U. S. Preventive Task Force recommends screening all children at age 12 for depression with the adolescent version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A), according to Dr. Wagner. Given the rising prevalence of depression in adolescents, which climbed 46% from 2005 (8.7%) to 2015 (12.7%) according to a published national survey, this screening is prudent, Dr. Wagner indicated. However, she further suggested that it is reasonable to screen children with risk factors, such as learning disorders or anxiety disorders, even earlier.

The reason is that there are effective therapies. Early treatment may prevent chronic and more severe forms of depression, according to Dr. Wagner. She suggested that there is a growing emphasis on not just treating depression at its early stages but also in recognizing the child at risk, identifying subsyndromal symptoms leading toward depression, and preventing children from ever reaching diagnostic criteria.

Indeed, an initiative for better and earlier detection and treatment of depression in children was begun by the AACAP when Dr. Wagner served recently as its president. Several parts of that program have now been launched. Dr. Wagner encouraged those with an interest to visit the AACAP website, where more information about this initiative can be accessed.

Dr. Wagner reported no potential conflicts of interest.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – There are studies demonstrating depression is more likely to resolve if depressed parents are also treated dating back more than 10 years, but new evidence suggests this effect may extend to children as young as 3 years of age, according to an update on current strategies for early intervention presented at a pediatric psychopharmacology update held by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Of multiple triggers that can be caught and treated early to prevent children from progressing to chronic depression, addressing parental depression is an important target, according to Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

In an overview of strategies for intervening early in children who have or are at risk for depression, Dr. Wagner looked at several targets. The purpose of recognizing and addressing such targets as parental depression is to get children well faster and avoid disease chronicity.

“If we want to intervene and potentially prevent the occurrence of depression, we need to look at disorders or triggers that may precede the depression and that, had they been treated, might have eliminated the stressors that tip the child into depression,” Dr. Wagner said.

Parental depression was just one of these factors, but along with others, such as child abuse of any kind and bullying, each poses a threat for chronic mood disorders, according to Dr. Wagner.

In the case of parental depression, Dr. Wagner cited numerous studies demonstrating a close correlation between remission in the parent and remission in the child. These trajectories interact, so children are less likely to get well if an affected parent does not get well.

“Make sure you consider depression in the parent when you are doing an evaluation, and it is not just depression in the parent who is there. Ask about the other partner who is not there,” Dr. Wagner advised. Parents reluctant to address their own depression should be informed that the mental health of their child is at risk.

The most recent evidence to show benefit from treating both child and parent was drawn from a controlled study that enrolled young children (Luby JL et al. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Jun 20. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.18030321).

In this study, 229 parent-child dyads were randomized to receive parent-child psychotherapy for early childhood depression or to a wait-list. The age range for the children was 3-6.2 years. The therapy was specifically designed to improve the parents’ ability to help young children cope with their feelings.

The parent-child interaction therapy “focused on emotional development which was designed to train parents to work with the child on developing emotional competence in which the child understands their emotions, understands how events affect how they are feeling, and controls emotional reactivity,” Dr. Wagner explained.

For the primary outcome of depression at the end of 18 weeks, the rates were significantly lower in those who participated in the interaction therapy than they were in those on the wait-list. Measures of parent depression and stress were also lower in the therapy group.

Currently, the U. S. Preventive Task Force recommends screening all children at age 12 for depression with the adolescent version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A), according to Dr. Wagner. Given the rising prevalence of depression in adolescents, which climbed 46% from 2005 (8.7%) to 2015 (12.7%) according to a published national survey, this screening is prudent, Dr. Wagner indicated. However, she further suggested that it is reasonable to screen children with risk factors, such as learning disorders or anxiety disorders, even earlier.

The reason is that there are effective therapies. Early treatment may prevent chronic and more severe forms of depression, according to Dr. Wagner. She suggested that there is a growing emphasis on not just treating depression at its early stages but also in recognizing the child at risk, identifying subsyndromal symptoms leading toward depression, and preventing children from ever reaching diagnostic criteria.

Indeed, an initiative for better and earlier detection and treatment of depression in children was begun by the AACAP when Dr. Wagner served recently as its president. Several parts of that program have now been launched. Dr. Wagner encouraged those with an interest to visit the AACAP website, where more information about this initiative can be accessed.

Dr. Wagner reported no potential conflicts of interest.