Assessment and Management of Depression in Children and Adolescents in Primary Care

Session 4 of the Northeast PA AHEC Navigating Youth Behavior Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

Date: November 20, 2024

Speaker: Dr. Petrovic-Dovat is an associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine. She is a director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program and associate site medical director for outpatient psychiatry children's services. Dr. Petrovic’s areas of interest include early diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety and suicide prevention in the pediatric population. She actively collaborates with the Department of Pediatrics at a clinical and research level and serves as an associate director of the Pediatric Behavioral Health Collaborative Care Program.

Learning Objectives:
Review Evidence-Based Treatments for Depression in Children and Adolescents
Discuss current standards for treatment and ongoing management of depression
Review guidelines for adolescent depression in primary care (GLAD-PC) to daily practice
Review suicide prevention guidelines

Practice GAP: Despite the availability of treatments, depression continues to be a major health problem with high recurrence rates. 6-10% of children experience a chronic course with persistent impairment into adulthood. The ability to select optimal treatments, including therapy, medication, and psychosocial interventions from the wide range of available options, and to adjust these treatments over time to address the evolving impairments caused by depression, can be challenging. Untreated depression may affect a child's emotional, cognitive, and social development and may significantly interfere with family and other relationships.

AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™ toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.

Contact Information: For more information, contact Chelsea Wolff or Valerie Williams.
Email Chelsea Email Valerie

Past Session Recording