Paul E. Croarkin, DO, MS

AACAP Annual Meeting 2026

October 26–31, 2026 · Atlanta, GA · Full program

• PosterDMDD, Bipolar Disorder, and Borderline Features in Childhood: Findings From a Naturalistic Sample

  October 28, 2026, 16:00–18:00

  Poster describing disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, bipolar disorder and borderline features in children from a naturalistic clinical sample.

  Bipolar DisorderChild & AdolescentMeasurement-Based Care & DiagnosisPersonality Disorders

• CourseResearch Institute: Cardiometabolic Connections With Mind, Medication, and Models of Care in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

  October 29, 2026

  Research institute on the two-way links between psychiatric illness and cardiometabolic health in youth — including medication-related weight gain, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia — and how that science should inform treatment planning.

  Antipsychotic PrescribingChild & AdolescentGLP-1 & Metabolic Psychiatry

• SessionChairResearch Pipeline: New Findings on Therapeutics

  October 29, 2026, 11:30–13:00

  Brief oral presentations of new research on diagnostics, monitoring and treatment relevant to child and adolescent psychiatry, including pharmacokinetic, clinical trial, device and digital health studies, followed by Q&A.

  Child & AdolescentNeuromodulation (ECT, TMS)Drug Pipeline & Clinical Trials

• Oral abstractBeyond Total Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Scores: Symptom-Specific Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in Adolescents With Depression

  October 29, 2026, 11:30–13:00

  Looks at which individual depressive symptoms, rather than total PHQ-9 scores, change with TMS treatment in adolescents with depression.

  Child & AdolescentDepressionNeuromodulation (ECT, TMS)

• PosterImpact of Generative AI Chatbots on Mental Health and Psychosocial Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  October 29, 2026, 13:00–15:00

  Systematic review and meta-analysis of how generative AI chatbots affect mental health and psychosocial outcomes.

  Digital Psychiatry & AIPsychotherapy

• SessionChairMany Paths, Shared Purpose: Building a Lifelong Research Community in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

  October 29, 2026, 14:00–17:00

  An interactive forum where trainees and child and adolescent psychiatrists at any career stage meet AACAP Research Committee members to discuss finding mentors, funding and opportunities, and sustaining a research career.

  Child & AdolescentEducation & TrainingPractice, Policy & Workforce

• SessionChairMaster Clinician Paul E. Croarkin, DO, MS: Evidence-Based Interventional Psychiatry in Children and Adolescents

  October 30, 2026, 07:00–08:30

  A clinical consultation breakfast reviewing evidence, safety, regulatory and ethical issues for TMS, ECT, electrical stimulation, ketamine/esketamine and emerging psychedelic approaches in youth with treatment-resistant disorders. Uses case-based discussion on patient selection and consent/assent.

  Child & AdolescentKetamine & EsketamineNeuromodulation (ECT, TMS)Treatment-Resistant Depression