Childhood-Onset Bipolar Disorder, ADHD and Psychotic Illness

Dr. Janet Wozniak, MD

As many as 2/3 of adults seen for bipolar clinical services had a pediatric onset to their illness. Psychosis has been reported in 15%-60% children and young adolescents with bipolar disorder.  Pediatric onset bipolar disorder has high rates of comorbidity with ADHD, which can continue into adult years.  Despite high rates of persistence and morbidity, there is skepticism as to whether bipolar disorder can start in the early years of life.  This presentation will discuss the course, characteristics and validity pediatric onset bipolar disorder with a focus on continuity into adult years. 

Dr. Janet Wozniak received her undergraduate degree from Harvard College, and her medical training at Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Wozniak completed her adult and child psychiatry training at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). She has since received an Eli Lilly Pilot Research Award, the Elaine Schlosser Lewis Award and Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award. At MGH, she is the director of the Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Clinical and Research Program and the director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Service. Dr. Wozniak’s research focuses on the characteristics, longitudinal course and treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder. Widely regarded as a national expert on the topic of pediatric bipolar disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Dr. Wozniak is the author of dozens of scientific articles.
Full Biography

Zoom Link: https://harvard.zoom.us/meeting/register/dB_fyeJXT56ysa_qpHA5yQ

Diagnostic Considerations in Early Psychosis

Emily Gagen, Ph.D. and Amanda Weber Ph.D.

In this presentation, we will explore diagnostic considerations in early psychosis, emphasizing the importance of applying a developmental and pediatric lens. This perspective is essential for accurately understanding the unique presentation of symptoms in adolescents and young adults and avoiding premature or inaccurate labeling. We will also highlight the critical role of differential diagnosis in providing thoughtful, individualized care—ensuring that diagnoses are not only accurate, but developmentally appropriate and responsive to the broader context of each young person’s life.

Emily Gagen, Ph.D. (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. She is the director of the Massachusetts Psychosis Access and Triage Hub (M-PATH) and is also a member of the team at the CEDAR Clinic, where she conducts diagnostic evaluations, provides individual psychotherapy to CEDAR clients, and supervises trainees. 

Amanda M. Weber, Ph.D. (they/them), is a licensed counseling psychologist at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. They are the director of the CEDAR Clinic and also co-lead the Massachusetts Psychosis Prevention Partnership (M3P). Currently, they supervise trainees, conduct psychiatric evaluations for youths and young adults, and provide individual, group, and family therapy.

Patient Retention and Family Engagement in Coordinated Specialty Care: Best Practices from Massachusetts Programs

Cheryl Y. S. Foo, PhD

Patient and family disengagement from coordinated specialty care (CSC) are common and compromise recovery from a first-episode of psychosis. This presentation will share findings from Massachusetts CSC programs on program characteristics, services, and strategies that promote patient retention and family engagement. 

 Cheryl Y. S. Foo, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on making evidence-based treatments for individuals with serious mental illness more accessible and used in community care settings. She is the Associate Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research, Director of Family Services of the MGH First Episode and Early Psychosis Program, and an Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School.

Rethinking Schizophrenia - New Perspective on Disorders

Matcheri Keshavan | TEDxHopkinton HS Youth

In this fascinating TEDx talk, Matcheri Keshavan challenges the conventional understanding of schizophrenia, arguing that the term itself is both stigmatizing and inaccurate. He proposes a radical shift in how we view the condition, suggesting that schizophrenia should be reimagined as part of a broader spectrum of brain disorders rather than a singular, fixed diagnosis. Keshavan advocates for reconsidering the language surrounding mental health, even proposing the possibility of a new name for the condition, one that reflects its complexity and range of symptoms. Through this rethinking, he hopes to reduce the stigma and encourage a more nuanced, compassionate approach to diagnosis, treatment, and support of those affected by the disorder.

Working with Medical Interpreters: Shifting from Standards of Practice to Intersubjectivity in the Clinical Space

Margaret Lanca
2023 Mass-STEP Conference Day 2

View Slides

Optimal Treatment of Psychotic Disorders: Clozapine, Engagement, and Community

Robert Laitmain, MD & Matcheri Keshavan, MD

Hosted by the New England MHTTC

The program describes a novel approach to engaging patients with psychosis and their families. We seek the development of true collaboration. Critical in this approach is establishing a community of individuals with a common interest that provides support for each other. The support allows the treatment team to secure the patient's trust, develop a therapeutic relationship and do the hard work of creating an optimal clozapine regimen. This session will go on to:

• Describe how we develop clozapine regimens that minimize predictable side effects and optimize benefits;

• Share our results in improving patient outcomes.