Despite variations in prevalence rates and according to the diagnostic criteria used, it is estimated that at least 10% of children and adolescents have some type of mental disorder and at least half of them have a significant decrease in family, social and school functioning. An even higher percentage has clinical symptoms with interference in their functioning but which do not reach diagnostic criteria for a specific disorder.
Research in Child Psychiatry and Psychology has seen an increase in the knowledge of how the brain’s development affects a child's behaviour and how biological and environmental factors interact in the development of different disorders. Gradually, this knowledge has helped improve pharmacological and psychological treatments and the combination of both. However, the road ahead remains long, both in improving prevention as well as in treatment and prognosis.
CIBERSAM Research in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
From a more transversal perspective which includes different pathologies in this age group, studies are being undertaken on the efficacy and safety of psychotropic drugs in children and adolescents, on autoimmune alterations in various psychiatric disorders and also on the development and validation of specific evaluation instruments and neuroimaging techniques.
- Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: the main objectives are the monitoring of the first psychotic episodes, the psychological testing of new approaches such as cognitive rehabilitation and psychoeducation, the clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and genetic study of children and adolescents with psychotic disorder, at high risk for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and adolescent patients with prodromal symptoms.
- Anorexia and bulimia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder: they are the main study objectives of genetics and neuroimaging, the testing of new therapeutic approaches both psychological and pharmacological and pharmacogenetic studies.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders: The objectives are related to the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids, with the neuropsychological profile and its relationship to clinical variables and changes in structural and functional neuroimaging in addition to genetic studies.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the main objectives are to study the efficacy of different approaches, both psychological and pharmacological and neuroimaging alterations.
- Addictive behaviour: epidemiological and treatment efficacy studies of drug and alcohol consumption among adolescents and the relationship between drug abuse and various psychiatric disorders are the principal objectives.
Coordination and member groups
Coordinator: JOSEFINA CASTRO FORNIELES
Groups members:
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