About the Lecture:

Although effective and largely durable treatments exist for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, a significant proportion of treated youth continue to experience impairing symptoms, and relapse is not uncommon. The cost of this incomplete treatment response is high given associated distress and impairment as well as the increased risk for negative long-term outcomes. This presentation will describe recent advances in the cognitive and behavioral understanding of anxiety and their practical application to enhancing the effectiveness of current approaches.

About the Lecturer:

Dr. John Piacentini is Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA School of Medicine and Director of the Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program at the UCLA Semel Institute. In addition, he is Chief of Child Psychology for the Semel Institute Medical Psychology Program and Chair of the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital. Dr. Piacentini’s research, teaching, and clinical work focus on the development, evaluation, and implementation of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and other effective treatments, including medication, for children with OCD, other anxiety disorders, tic disorders and trichotillomania.