This online session will explore Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS), with a focus on its assessment and implications for clinical practice. Led by Professor Stephen Becker, the session will provide an overview of CDS, consider validated assessment measures and differential diagnosis, and examine the current evidence around treatment and practical considerations for clinicians working with children, young people and families.
Register for the event & pricing
Sign up at this link or on the Book Now buttons, and complete the form that follows. You’ll then receive an email confirmation and a link to the webinar, plus we’ll send you a calendar reminder nearer the time.
Delegates will have exclusive access to recordings for 90 days after the event, together with slides. Plus you will get a personalised CPD/CME certificate via email. Recordings from the session will be available to delegates from 5 working days after the event.
- ACAMH Members MUST login to book onto the webinar in order to access this webinar and get a CPD/CME certificate.
- Non-members: this is a great time to join ACAMH, take a look at what we have to offer, and make the saving on these sessions.
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| ACAMH paying Members (Online, Concession) | EARLY BIRD £49 (until 15/01/27 then £69)(Join now and save) |
| ACAMH Learn Account Holders | EARLY BIRD £69 (until 15/01/27 then £89) |
| Non Members | EARLY BIRD £69 (until 15/01/27 then £89) |
| ACAMH Undergraduate/ Postgraduate Members | £10 |
| LMIC Members | Free |
About the session
Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS), formerly termed sluggish cognitive tempo, is characterized by persistent, developmentally inappropriate difficulties with daydreaming, mental fogginess or confusion, staring, hypoactivity, and slowed behavior. Although CDS is not currently recognized as a psychiatric disorder, a growing literature supports its distinction from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, and daytime sleepiness.
This presentation will provide an overview of the current evidence on CDS, including its terminology, defining features, developmental course, potential etiologies and mechanisms, and associations with functioning across the lifespan. Particular attention will be given to links with ADHD, internalizing symptoms, neurocognitive correlates, and social and academic difficulties.
The presentation will then review approaches to identifying and assessing CDS in children, adolescents, and adults, including available multi-informant rating scales. Finally, the presentation will consider the limited but emerging evidence relevant to intervention. Preliminary findings involving school-based supports, behavioral sleep intervention, mindfulness, and strategies targeting mind wandering, routines, activation, and organization will be discussed, while emphasizing that CDS-specific treatment recommendations remain an important area for future research and clinical attention.
Clinical examples and lived-experience perspectives will illustrate why CDS matters to young people and families. Attendees will leave with an evidence-informed framework for understanding CDS, assessing its features and functional impact, communicating about it responsibly, and considering individualized supports while recognizing gaps in knowledge and priorities for future research.
Learning outcomes:
- To describe the defining features of cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS), its functional correlates, and its distinction from ADHD and other overlapping conditions.
- To identify available approaches for assessing CDS.
- To evaluate the emerging evidence relevant to CDS intervention.
Who should attend
Child and adolescent mental health professionals, particularly psychiatrists, psychologists and other practitioners involved in the assessment and clinical care of children and young people, including those working with ADHD and related presentations.
About the Speakers
Stephen P Becker, Ph.D., is Professor of Pediatrics, Endowed Chair, Associate Division Director—Research, and Co-Director of the Center for ADHD at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. His developmental psychopathology research examines factors shaping ADHD presentation and course, particularly cognitive disengagement syndrome and sleep/circadian function. He has published extensively and leads grants from NIMH and the Institute of Education Sciences. In 2024, he received the APA Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) and as Joint Editor of JCPP Advances.