Psychosis and bipolar disorder in children and young people can present significant challenges for clinicians, from reaching an accurate diagnosis to making informed decisions about pharmacological management and monitoring their ongoing impact.
This ACAMH Expert Day brings together expert perspectives on the diagnosis and pharmacological management of these severe mental illnesses, with practical consideration of treatment monitoring, including the use of rating scales, physical health monitoring and the management of side effects.
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 30/10/26 then £69)(Join now and save) |
| ACAMH Learn Account Holders | EARLY BIRD £69 (until 30/10/26 then £89) |
| Non Members | EARLY BIRD £69 (until 30/10/26 then £89) |
| ACAMH Undergraduate/ Postgraduate Members | £10 |
| LMIC Members | Free |
About the event
Three-hour ACAMH Expert Half-Day with Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos and Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma. This online session will include dedicated presentations on psychosis and bipolar disorder in children and young people, followed by a joint session on treatment monitoring and a final discussion and Q&A.
Who should attend
This event is primarily aimed at mental health practitioners working with children and young people, particularly clinical psychologists and child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAMHS). It is designed for professionals involved in the assessment and management of severe mental illness who want to deepen their knowledge of the diagnosis, pharmacological management and ongoing monitoring of psychosis and bipolar disorder in children and young people.
About the Talks
This half-day event will present advanced clinical insights into the assessment and treatment of psychosis and bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. Early-onset severe mental illness present unique diagnostic challenges, often showing overlapping symptoms that complicate differential diagnosis from other neurodevelopmental and behavioural disorders. We will review the latest diagnostic criteria, assessment principles and management strategies focusing on current psychopharmacological guidelines, targeted psychotherapeutic interventions, and monitoring with the use of relevant rating scales. We will also discuss multidisciplinary care models and early intervention strategies aimed at improving long-term prognosis.
Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos – Psychosis in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Pharmacological Management
Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma – Bipolar Disorder in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Pharmacological Management
Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos and Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma – Monitoring Treatment in Severe Mental Illness: Rating Scales, Physical Health Monitoring and Managing Side Effects
Programme Schedule
| 09:30 | Welcome and Introduction |
| 09:35 | Professor Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos – Psychosis in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Pharmacological Management |
| 10:20 | Reflections and refreshment |
| 10:25 | Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma – Bipolar Disorder in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Pharmacological Management |
| 11:10 | Reflections and refreshment |
| 11:25 | Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos and Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma – Monitoring Treatment in Severe Mental Illness: Rating Scales, Physical Health Monitoring and Managing Side Effects |
| 11:55 | Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos and Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma – Discussion and Q&A |
| 12:25 | Closing remarks |
| 12:30 | Close |
FAQs on the topic
1. What is early-onset psychosis?
Early-onset psychosis refers to psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking that begin before the age of 18. It is a severe but treatable condition that can affect development, education and family life. Evidence suggests that early recognition and intervention reduce the duration of untreated psychosis and support better long-term outcomes.
2. Why is bipolar disorder in children and young people often under-recognised?
Bipolar disorder frequently first appears during the teenage years, yet it often goes unrecognised in young people. Early episodes may be depressive rather than manic, and symptoms such as irritability, sleep changes or impulsivity can overlap with other conditions. Timely, accurate diagnosis matters, as delays can affect treatment choices, schooling and family wellbeing.
3. What conditions can overlap with psychosis and bipolar disorder in young people?
Symptoms of severe mental illness in young people can overlap with ADHD, autism, trauma-related difficulties, emotional dysregulation and substance use. Autistic young people, for example, may experience intense anxiety or distinctive thinking patterns that can be mistaken for psychotic symptoms, while some do go on to develop psychosis. Careful developmental assessment helps distinguish these presentations.
4. What medications are used to treat psychosis and bipolar disorder in children and adolescents?
Antipsychotic medication is the main pharmacological treatment for psychosis in young people, usually alongside psychological and family support. For bipolar disorder, mood stabilisers such as lithium and some antipsychotics may be used. Evidence from randomised trials supports their use, but young people can be more sensitive to side effects, so decisions weigh benefits, risks and individual needs.
5. Why is physical health monitoring important for young people taking antipsychotic medication?
Antipsychotics can cause side effects including weight gain, metabolic changes, raised prolactin and movement difficulties, and young people may be particularly vulnerable to them. Regular checks of weight, blood pressure, blood tests and side effects help detect problems early. Rating scales are also used to track symptom change and treatment response over time.
About the Speakers
Dr. Marinos Kyriakopoulos PhD, FRCPsych is Assistant Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist of the National and Specialist Autism and Intellectual Disability Intensive Intervention Team of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Visiting Senior Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, KCL. He has clinical and research interest in early-onset psychotic disorders, the interface between autism spectrum disorders and psychosis, developmental neuropsychiatry and psychopharmacology, and the stigma of mental health treatment in childhood.
Professor Dr. Aditya Sharma is a Clinical Senior Lecturer and Hon Consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry at Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University and Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. Adi’s clinical academic interests include the epidemiology of, risk factors for the development of and management strategies to target the managment of Early Onset Mood Disorders to improve psychosocial outcomes and more recently global mental health. He leads on various psychopharmacology trials and also leads on various initiatives in digital mental health.
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