Inflammation & Immunopsychiatry at AACAP Annual Meeting 2026

Tuesday, October 27

• 08:30–10:30 · Lecture

  Immune Dysfunction in Regression and Catatonia: Lessons Learned From Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD)

  Christopher M. Bartley

  Discusses the role of immune dysfunction in regression and catatonia, based on Down Syndrome Regression Disorder.

  Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Catatonia

• 11:00–13:00 · Lecture

  Novel Autoantibodies to Inhibitory Neurons in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) of Individuals With Down Syndrome: Implications for Down Syndrome Regression Disorder ( DSRD)

  Christopher M. Bartley

  Discusses autoantibodies found in cerebrospinal fluid of people with Down syndrome and their relevance to regression disorder.

  Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Neuroscience & Mechanisms

• 11:00–13:00 · Symposium

  Down Syndrome Regression Disorder: From Bench to Bedside

  GenaLynne C. Mooneyham · Cassie D. Karlsson · Aaron D. Besterman · Eliza M. Gordon-Lipkin · Christopher M. Bartley

  A symposium on Down syndrome regression disorder, spanning laboratory findings through clinical care.

  Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Catatonia · Child & Adolescent

• Session · Clinical Case Conference

  Going From Lorazepam 140 Mg to Zero: A Cross-Country Transfer for Electroconvulsive Therapy

  Aishwarya Rajagopalan · Anastasia Klott · Jacob Feigal · Jonathan R. Komisar · Beau A. Carubia · Alejandra Chavez

  Case conference on severe malignant catatonia from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis requiring a cross-country transfer for ECT, used to spotlight state-level legal barriers to pediatric ECT access, with the patient and family perspective included.

  Catatonia · Child & Adolescent · Neuromodulation (ECT, TMS)

Wednesday, October 28

• 15:30–17:30 · Lecture

  Gut-Brain Axis in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Interventions

  Susan Shur-Fen Gau

  Examines the gut-brain axis in neurodevelopmental disorders and related interventions.

  Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Neuroscience & Mechanisms

Posters (3)

• Hyperstriving Cognitive Style and Inflammation in Adolescents at Risk of Developing Bipolar Disorder — Cecilia N. Hollenhorst et al.
• Beyond Known Antibodies: Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of C erebrospinal Fluid B Cells in Pediatric Anti- N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis — Prakhar Bansal et al.
• Inflammatory Mediation of the Relationship Between Early Adversity and Later Depression: An Updated Meta-Analysis — Lawrence Maayan

Thursday, October 29

• 10:30–12:00 · Lecture

  The Mind and the Skin: Neuroimmune Pathways Linking Stress and Inflammation in Youth

  Andrew Huang

  Discusses neuroimmune pathways connecting stress, inflammation and skin conditions in young people.

  Child & Adolescent · Medical Comorbidity & C-L Psychiatry

Posters (5)

• Brain and Gut: Randomized Evidence for Stem Cell and Microbiome Interventions in Pediatric Autism — Mona Salehi et al.
• Catatonia in Pediatric A nti-N-methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: A 2-Site Retrospective Cohort Study — Emily Slominski et al.
• Beyond PANDA-monium: Diagnostic Attribution in a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Referral Clinic — Kyle McKenna et al.
• Transient Infection, Lasting Impact: Persistent Brain-Resident Type-I Skewed T Cells and Microglia Mediate Sex-Specific Sensory Deficits After Early-Life Viral Infection — Richard M. Jin et al.
• Psychiatric Symptoms of Pediatric Patients With Anti – N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti-NMDAR) Encephalitis in Philippine Children’s Medical Center — John Michael Landicho Reyes et al.

Friday, October 30

• Symposium · Clinical Perspectives

  Autoimmune Encephalitis: 2026 Updates

  GenaLynne C. Mooneyham · Leonardo V. Lopez · Eliza M. Gordon-Lipkin · Jessica Durkee-Shock · Shawn S. Glocker

  NIH-led clinical update on autoimmune encephalitis in pediatric patients, covering recognition, workup, and treatment from psychiatry, genetics, and immunology perspectives.

  Child & Adolescent · Medical Comorbidity & C-L Psychiatry

Posters (1)

• Children With ADHD Are More Likely to Have Atopic Diseases: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study — Sean Joseph Hollebeck et al.