BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER IN CRISIS: FAMILY-BASED INTERVENTIONS ACROSS DIFFERENT SETTINGS OF CARE

Abstract

There is considerable evidence for the clinical utility of family-based interventions (FI) in several domains of childhood psychopathology. Despite the known efficacy of FI, many child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship programs in the United States provide minimal FI training. The goals of this presentation are to highlight the feasibility and relevance of FI across acute care settings and crisis situations, and to provide practical tips on incorporating FI within the scope of daily practice of child and adolescent psychiatry. Presenters from different institutions across the country will discuss the role of FI in treating youth in crisis from inpatient, consultation-liaison, outpatient, and emergency department (ED) perspectives. Using a case-based approach, presenters will give real-life context for the following treatment approaches: brief family therapy for adolescents in the inpatient psychiatric unit, family CBT to treat psychological distress in children on a transplant unit, attachment-based family therapy (ABFT) for high-risk adolescents in the outpatient setting, and emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT) for suicidal adolescents in the ED. The presenters will engage the audience by incorporating a think/pair/share activity to practice problem solving in each treatment setting, and by providing clinical pearls for clinicians to apply FI skills in their practice. Family factors frequently play a significant role in childhood mental health crises. The presenters demonstrate how FI can be effective practical treatment tools for psychiatrists to apply across treatment settings. Family dynamics represent a critical underpinning in understanding both childhood mental distress and well-being. Therefore, it is critical for child and adolescent psychiatrists to understand how family dynamics affect patient distress and to be equipped with skills to intervene with families across treatment settings.