Sexual Health in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Multi-Site Implementation Through Synchronized Videoconferencing of an Educational Resource Using Standardized Patients.

Objective: Matters of sexuality and sexual health are common in the practice of child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP), yet clinicians can feel ill-equipped to address them with confidence. To address this gap in training and practice, we developed, implemented, and evaluated an educational module enhanced by videotaped depictions of expert clinicians interacting with professional actors performing as standardized patients (SPs). Methods: We developed an educational resource highlighting common issues of sexual health relevant to CAP practice, including sexual development, psychotropic-related side effects, and sexuality in children with autism. We wrote original scripts, based on which two clinicians interacted with three SPs. Digital recordings were edited to yield 5 clips with a cumulative running time of 20 min. The clips were interspersed during a 90-min session comprising didactic and interactive components. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we used synchronous videoconferencing, which allowed content dissemination to several training programs across the country. Results: We recruited 125 learners from 16 CAP training programs through the American Academy of CAP's Alliance for Learning and Innovation (AALI). Routine inquiry into adolescent patients' sexual function was uncommon, reported by only 28% of participants, with "awkward" and "uncomfortable" the most common terms mentioned in reference to the clinical task. The didactic intervention led to measurable improvements after 2 weeks in skills and knowledge (p = 0.004) and in attitudes (p < 0.001). The three items with the greatest improvement were: (a) availability of developmentally tailored resources; (b) comfort in addressing sexual development with underage patients; and (c) with parents or guardians of neuroatypical or developmentally disabled patients (p < 0.001 for each). Conclusions: A sexual health curriculum enriched by video-based examples can lead to measurable improvement in outcomes pertinent to the clinical practice of CAP. These educational materials are available for distribution, use and adaptation by local instructors. Our study also provides proof-of-principle for the use of multisite educational initiatives in CAP through synchronized videoconferencing.

Developmental Psychopathology: Risk and Resilience in the Transition to Young Adulthood.

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a challenging time for many young people, given the multiple simultaneous demands placed by biological, psychological, and social forces that affect an individual's development. There are additional challenges when one is coping with ongoing or evolving mental health disorders. This article focuses on the demographics of transitional age youth, ages 16 to 26 years, in the United States, the unique characteristics of this developmental period, and how risk and resilience factors may affect the course of development and an individual's pathway to adulthood.

Psychotropic medications in autism: practical considerations for parents.

Medications are widely prescribed in children with autism spectrum disorders. Most commonly these medications are used to decrease symptoms that fall under three main clusters: irritability, ADHD-like symptoms, and repetitive behaviors. In this guide we introduce basic approaches to medications in children with autism and review the scientific evidence in each symptom cluster.