Description

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in every 150 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder. Many have either high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome, which are complex, brain-based conditions that profoundly affect the lives of individuals and their families.  These two conditions can be difficult to diagnose and treat because their symptoms vary tremendously among individuals, affecting the realms of emotions, thinking, and behavior.  Diagnosis and treatment are further complicated by the fact that these disorders often co-occur with other mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD and anxiety.

 

While there is currently no cure for autism, researchers at MGH and around the country are studying many approaches to improve the lives of individuals with autism through educational, vocational, and behavioral interventions, as well as medications.

 

We invite you to learn about the latest research developments in diagnosing, treating, and improving the quality of life for pre-teens, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with high-functioning autism or with Asperger's syndrome. 

 

Learning Objectives

 

 

• Understand the diagnostic considerations in recognizing high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
• Appreciate the significant presence of various psychiatric disorders in individuals with ASD.
• Understand that bipolar disorder occurs in youth and can co-occur with ASD, complicating the diagnosis and management of these already compromised individuals.
• Differentiate typical obsessions and compulsions from stereotypies of ASD and accurately diagnose OCD in individuals with ASD.
• Review the special considerations in psychopharmacological management of individuals with ASD.
• Describe the neurocognitive profile of youth with ASD and discuss how to manage their educational needs.
• Become familiar with the cognitive-behavior therapy approaches designed for the management of ASD and associated psychiatric disorders.

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Agenda

Saturday, May 1, 2010

8:00AM – 9:10AM	Registration and Breakfast
9:10AM – 9:15AM	Welcome and Introduction Joseph Biederman, MD
9:15AM – 10:00AM	Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Diagnostic Overview Gagan Joshi, MD
10:00AM – 10:45AM	Stereotypies or Compulsions? The Overlap Between ASD and OCD Daniel A. Geller, MD
10:45AM – 11:30AM	Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bipolar Spectrum Disorder: An Overlooked Comorbidity Janet Wozniak, MD
11:30AM – 12:15PM	Panel Discussion
12:15PM – 1:15PM	Lunch
1:15PM – 2:00PM	ADHD Comorbidity in ASD: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations Gagan Joshi, MD
2:00PM – 2:45PM	Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth with ASD Aude Henin, PhD
2:45PM – 3:30PM	Neuropsychological Findings and Managing Educational Needs in ASD Ronna Fried, EdD
3:30PM – 4:15PM	Panel Discussion
4:15PM – 4:15PM	Adjourn

Faculty

Joseph Biederman, MD, Chief, Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

 

Gagan Joshi, MD, Scientific Director of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Program, and Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

 

Ronna Fried, EdD, Director of Paradigm Development Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

 

Daniel A. Geller, MD, Director, Pediatric Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Program, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

 

Aude Henin, PhD, Director, Pediatric Cognitive Behavior Therapy Program, and Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

 

Janet Wozniak, MD, Director, Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Research Program Clinical and Research Programs in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

 

General Information

SPECIAL NEEDS:
The Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Department is in full compliance with provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is accessible for individuals with special needs. If you would like to attend this conference and require any special accommodations, please contact Anan Nathif at 617-643-0261.

Hotel Information:

The following hotels are within walking distance of the Starr Conference Center:

The Holiday Inn, 5 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114

Telephone: 617-742-7630.

The Liberty Hotel, 215 Charles Street, Boston MA 02114

Telephone: 617.224.4000

Fax: 617.224.4001

You may mention that you are with MGH to get a special discounted rate.

Facility Information

Massachusetts General Hospital

The Starr Center

185 Cambridge Street

Boston, MA 02114

Starr Center Map & Directions

185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 2nd floor

By Automobile

From the West

Route 90 (Mass. Turnpike)

• Via the Massachusetts Turnpike (Rte. 90) take Exit 18 (Cambridge-Allston). This is a left exit.
• Bear right after the toll booth.
• Turn right at first set of lights onto Storrow Drive (Downtown Boston-Storrow Drive).
• After approximately 5 miles, take the Government Center-Downtown exit.
• Follow signs to Downtown and Government Center (Cambridge Street).
• Proceed along Cambridge Street for 2 sets of lights. Just past the Holiday Inn, you will see Charles River Plaza. Staniford Street is just beyond Charles River Plaza on the left.
• Parking is available on the upper deck or underground of Charles River Plaza, or at meters on the street.
• The Starr Center is located at the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

Route 2

• Take Memorial Drive East to the Downtown/Government Center exit. This will be a left exit.
• Cross the Longfellow Bridge, go through the light onto Cambridge Street.
• Proceed along Cambridge Street for 2 sets of lights. Just past the Holiday Inn, you will see Charles River Plaza on the left. Staniford Street is just beyond Charles River Plaza on the left.
• Parking is available on the upper deck or underground of Charles River Plaza, or at meters on the street.
• The Starr Center is located at the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

From the North

I-93

• Follow I-93 South to exit 26A (Leverett Circle / Storrow Drive); proceed to the left lane and follow Storrow Drive.
• Take the Government Center/Kendall Square exit.
• Go through the first light under the "T" (subway) station.
• Proceed along Cambridge Street for 2 sets of lights. Just past the Holiday Inn, you will see Charles River Plaza. Staniford Street is just beyond Charles River Plaza on the left.
• Parking is available on the upper deck or underground of Charles River Plaza, or at meters on the street.
• The Starr Center is located at the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

From the South

I-93 North and I-95 North

• Take the Government Center exit. At the exit take the left lane and follow Government Center signs.
• Go straight until you get to a "T" intersection. At that intersection make a right turn onto Congress Street. You will drive under a parking structure. At the traffic light at the end of that structure, make a left turn onto New Chardon Street.
• Then make the first right turn onto Cambridge Street. The next street on your right is Staniford. Before you get to the following street and just after you pass the church and library is Charles River Plaza.
• The first driveway on the right is the plaza deck parking (expensive).The underground parking is the second driveway on the right with elevators which will take you directly to the second floor (the 165 Cambridge Street Elevators).
• The Starr Center is located at the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

Route 1

• Follow Route 1 South over the Tobin Bridge ($2 toll for cars).
• Take the Storrow Drive exit and proceed to the left lane.
• Take the Government Center/Kendall Square exit.
• Go through the first light under the "T" (subway) station.
• Proceed along Cambridge Street for 2 sets of lights. Just past the Holiday Inn, you will see Charles River Plaza. Staniford Street is just beyond Charles River Plaza on the left.
• Parking is available on the upper deck or underground of Charles River Plaza, or at meters on the street.
• The Starr Center is located at the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

By Public Transportation

The Starr Center is centrally located between stops on the Red Line, Green Line, and

Blue Line on the MBTA.

The closest Red Line station is Charles Street. When you descend from Charles Station, walk up Cambridge Street for several blocks toward the Holiday Inn. You will see Charles River Plaza on your left. The Starr Center is located in the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

The closest Green Line station is Park Street. (You may change to the Red Line at Park Street and continue along to Charles Street station, which is just slightly closer than Park Street, and follow the directions above.) Walk up Park Street toward the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Street, turn left on Bowdoin Street and walk down the hill to Cambridge Street, then take a left towards the Holiday Inn. Charles River Plaza is on your right. The Starr Center is located in the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

The closest Blue Line station is Bowdoin. When you ascend Bowdoin station, walk down Cambridge Street towards the Holiday Inn. Staniford Street is on the right, and just beyond is Charles River Plaza, also on your right. The Starr Center is located in the Charles River Plaza in the Simches Research Building- 2nd Floor.

Accreditation

PHYSICIANS
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of McLean Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.  McLean Hospital is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians.

CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT
McLean Hospital designates this continuing medical educational activity for a maximum of 6.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CE ACCREDITATION
NURSES

This continuing nursing education activity was approved by New Hampshire Nurses Association Commission on Continuing Education, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Six nursing contact hours will be provided upon successful completion of this activity.

SOCIAL WORKERS

This program has been approved for six (6) approved Entity  Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. Collaborative of NASW and the Boston College and Simmons Schools of Social Work Authorization Number D 41460a.

PSYCHOLOGISTS
The Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists and maintains responsibility for this program. This offering meets the criteria 6.00 Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists.

FACULTY DISCLOSURE
As a sponsor accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of the McLean Hospital to require the disclosure of anyone who is in a position to control the content of an educational activity. All relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests and/or manufacturers must be disclosed to participants at the beginning of each activity. Faculty disclosures for each presenter will be listed with their biographical information.

RESOLUTION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST (COI)
McLean Hospital has implemented a process to resolve COI for each CME activity. In order to help ensure content objectivity, independence, fair balance and ensure that the content is aligned with the interest of the public, the McLean Hospital has resolved the conflict by External Content Review.