Childhood Chronic Irritability and the Pathophysiology of Mental Illness » Agenda

Session 1: Definition and Measurement

Chair: Danny Pine. Provide overview of working definition(s), components of irritability, related constructs, and available measures.

• (9:20-9:45) Irritability: concepts and measurement for neuroscience research – Argyris Stringaris
• (9:45-10:05) Animal: behavioral definitions/paradigms – Ned Kalin
• (10:05-11:00) Discussion and next steps

Session 2: Neurobiology of Irritability

Chair: Essi Viding. What is known? How do we study it?

• (11:15-11:35) Heritability/specific genetic components – Roxanne Roberson-Nay
• (11:35-11:50) Neural circuits in older children/adolescents – Christen Deveney
• (11:50-12:05) Neural circuits in young children – Susan Perlman
• (12:05-12:20) Reactive aggression – James Blair
• (12:20-12:35) Brief Question and Answer (Main Discussion follows end of Session 2)

Session 2: Neurobiology of Irritability (continued)

• (1:30-1:45) Emotion regulation and autism – Gabriel Dichter
• (1:45-2:00) Familial depression and HPA function – Ian Gotlib
• (2:00-3:00) Discussion and next steps

Session 3: Interactions of Developmental Trajectories of Irritability and Psychiatric Illness

Chair: Boris Birmaher. Review knowledge about normative and non-normative developmental trajectories of irritability and links to psychopathology.

• (3:15-3:30) Epidemologic, normative data – Bill Copeland
• (3:30-3:45) Normative and atypical irritability in early childhood – Laurie Wakschlag
• (3:45-4:00) Clinical data – David Axelson
• (4:00-5:00) Discussion and next steps

Session 4: Treating Irritability

Chair: Christopher Sarampote. What are the targets for treating irritability? What are current approaches? How can intervention research inform etiology/ pathophysiology of irritability and associated behaviors?

• (8:50-9:10) Medication/Psychopharmacology – Jim McGough
• (9:10-9:30) Neurochemistry/pharmacology – Dan Iosifescu
• (9:30-9:50) Psychosocial – Jeffrey Halperin
• (9:50-10:10) Discussion and next steps

Session 5: Next steps

• Summary by Ellen – what have we heard
• Grand view of next steps, integrating across topics, outlining specific priorities
• Publication: Finalize outline and timeline