Welcome to the 20th WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

The 2.2 billion children and adolescents alive today constitute nearly one-third of the world’s population. About half of all mental health disorders begin to develop before age 14, with up to 70% beginning to develop before the age of 25. This session will give an overview of the most recent advances in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry, specifically autism spectrum disorder, personality problems and trauma. First, Prof. Skokauskas, the Chair of WPA child and adolescent psychiatry, will present the WPA Child and adolescent psychiatry section’s activities during the last triennium. While a growing number of studies indicate associations between experiences of bullying and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is not clear what roles comorbid behavioral problems may play. Prof. B. Leventhal will speak about the experiences of children with ASD as victims and/or perpetrators of bullying. In the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), there is a provision that allows for the diagnosis of borderline personality before the age of 18. Prof. T. Frodl will speak about the influence of epigenetic mechanisms with regard to emotional dysregulation. Traumatic experiences can pose a threat to a child’s life or bodily integrity. Prof. C. Hoven will speak about how to assess long-term impact of trauma exposure and her study on the effects of the World Trade Center attacks on New York City public school students.