Evidence-Based Assessment for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Better Tools for Better Decisions and Outcomes

Objectives: Participants will learn about evidence-based assessment (EBA) to support diagnostic and treatment decision-making and improve patient care. Methods: Field-leading experts will review the extant literature, including recent scientific updates and clinically relevant take-home literature, to help child and adolescent psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals gain knowledge on methods of delivery of EBA to deliver improved patient care. Using proven high-structure didactic methods (e.g., "Think-Pair-Share") and multiple question and answer sessions, participants also will develop plans to use EBA in their practice. Presenters will emphasize free and validated options whenever available. Results: Cathryn Galanter, MD, and Eric Youngstrom, PhD, will introduce the Institute and provide a framework for incorporating EBA into practice. Dr. Youngstrom then will review how to best use rating scales for assessment and monitoring. Prudence Fisher, PhD, will review research diagnostic instruments. Dr. Galanter will review research updates and clinical impact of science of diagnostic decision-making. Kelly Posner, PhD, will review how to use EBA to improve assessment of suicide risk, ideation, and behavior. Graham Emslie, MD, will review how EBA can improve psychopharmacological treatment outcomes. Jon McClellan, MD, will review monitoring of medication adverse effects. Peter Jensen, MD, will synthesize the lectures and leads exercises in which participants identify several changes that they intend to make in their practices based on the course content. Conclusions: The combination of concepts and tools bundled in this Institute provide a practical, low-cost way of improving consistency and accuracy of diagnostic and treatment decision-making. The tracking and monitoring strategies also boost the effectiveness of interventions and provide a safety net for more rapid detection and management of adverse events. Using free options in the AACAP Toolbox and other online resources, these methods have the potential to add to practitioners' toolkits and provide better outcomes for more youths.