Patient-Centered Mental Health in Paediatric Primary Care (PPP)

Patient-Centered Mental Health in Paediatric Primary Care (PPP)

May 8-10, 2025 | A Virtual Training hosted by BC Children’s Hospital and Foundry BC

ELIGIBILITY: Registration is limited to British Columbia-based Primary Care Providers (Physicians and Nurse Practitioners)

Patient-Centered Mental Health in Paediatric Primary Care (PPP)

May 8-10, 2025 | A Virtual Training hosted by Children’s Hospital and Foundry BC

ELIGIBILITY: Registration is limited to British Columbia-based Primary Care Providers (Physicians and Nurse Practitioners)

Thank you to those who expressed interest in participating in the upcoming May cohort of CanREACH being offered by BC Children’s Hospital and Foundry BC. The expression of interest period is now closed. If you have been selected for a seat, you will be contacted by email- CanReach@cw.bc.ca.

We had overwhelming interest, so not everyone will be offered a seat. Those not offered a seat will be placed on a waiting list and contacted if space should open up or a future cohort offered.

Please stay tuned for more information and agenda information as we get closer to May.

Audience

Paediatric primary care providers: Paediatricians, family physicians, and nurse practitioners.

Description

Patient-Centered Mental Health in Paediatric Primary Care (PPP) trains clinicians to diagnose and treat mental health conditions they see every day in practice. This program will teach you to manage the most common issues yourself, saving referrals to mental health specialists for complex cases. Participants learn not only to diagnose and treat patients but also to refer families to appropriate supports such as cognitive behavioural therapy. You’ll leave the training with tools you can use immediately:
  • Validated assessments to get data from patients and families
  • Clinical guidelines for differential diagnosis
  • Quick-reference medication guides
  • Sample forms for referring patients to psychotherapy
After the training, you’ll be more confident in your diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. Our world-class faculty of paediatricians, developmental-behavioural paediatricians, clinical nurse specialists, and child and adolescent psychiatrists will help you transform your practice, increase your productivity, and improve your work satisfaction. Patient-Centered Mental Health in Paediatric Primary Care has two components:
  • A dynamic three-day, 17.75-hour interactive course focused on building skills and confidence in diagnosing and treating paediatric behavioural health problems.
  • A six-month case-based follow-up program. Participants join one-hour group conference calls twice monthly with national primary care and child/adolescent psychiatry experts to solidify their learning.

Participants develop confidence and competence as they learn to:

  • Correctly identify and differentiate among paediatric behavioural health problems such as depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety states (including PTSD), oppositional and conduct disorders, and psychosis.
  • Effectively manage psychopharmacology: select medications, initiate and taper dosages, monitor improvements, and identify and minimize medication side effects.
  • Create and implement a treatment plan by mobilizing existing resources like family members, school personnel, and other professional caregivers.

CME Accreditation

This event is an accredited learning program as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the University of Calgary Office of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development for a maximum of 26.5 hours Group Learning Activity (Section 1) and 7 hours Self-Assessment Program (Section 3). This Group Learning program has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 81 Mainpro+ credits.

EXAMPLE AGENDA

11:30 – 12:00 pm – Registration

12:00 – 12:10 pm – Welcome and Overview

12:10 – 12:30 pm – Meet your group and choose a spokesperson

12:30 – 12:40 pm – Opening Remarks: This isn’t your Grandma’s CME!

12:40 – 1:15 pm – Unit A: Introduction to Course | Common Grounds and Gaps

1:15 – 2:00 pm – Unit B: Pediatric Psychopharmacology Overview: Categories and Agents

2:00 – 2:10 pm – Break

2:10 – 3:00 pm – Unit C: Assessment of Mental Health in Pediatric Primary Care

3:00 – 3:10 pm – Break

3:10– 4:20 pm – Unit D: Assessment of Anxiety Disorders and Trauma Stretch

4:20 – 4:25 pm – Break

4:25 – 4:55 pm – Unit E: Treatment of Anxiety Disorders and PTSD

4:55 – 5:20 pm – Faculty Panel: Anxiety = primary topic

5:20 – 5:22 pm – Complete first day evaluations

5:22 – 5:25 pm – Summary and Wrap-Up of Day One, Adjourn

8:30 – 8:35 am – Overview and Welcome to Day 2

8:35– 8:45 am – Breakout rooms: Choose your group spokesperson!

8:45– 9:35 am – Unit F: Depression: A Short Course

9:35 – 9:40 am – Break

9:40 – 10:45 am – Unit G: Assessing and Managing Suicidality

10:45 – 10:55 am – Break

10:55 – 11:40 am – Unit H: Managing Adolescent Depression in Primary Care

11:40 – 11:50 am – FACULTY PANEL: Depression = primary topic

11:50 – 12:30pm – Unit I: Pediatric Bipolar Disorder

12:30 – 12:40 pm – FACULTY PANEL: Bipolar and depression = primary topics

12:40 – 1:25 pm – Lunch

1:25 – 2:45 pm – Unit J: The Finer Points of ADHD Assessment

2:45 – 2:50 pm – Stretch Break

2:50 – 3:25 pm – Unit K: Treating ADHD

3:25 – 3:35 pm – Afternoon Break

3:35 – 4:45 pm – Unit K Continued: Treating ADHD

4:45 – 4:55 pm – FACULTY PANEL ADHD = primary topic

4:55 – 5:00 pm – Complete 2nd Day Evaluations

5:00 – 5:05 pm – Summary and Wrap-Up of Day Two Homework Assignment

The course will be offered at a reduced rate of $800 per person.

Schizophrenia:
Many SGAs are indicated as a first line therapy for schizophrenia in adolescents and for the positive symptoms of psychotic disorders in general. SGAs treat active psychosis as well as decrease relapses if remission from active symptoms is achieved.

Depression:
SGAs are not indicated for treatment of depression in adolescents unless a psychotic depression was present. For a depression without psychotic symptoms, first line treatment is an SSRI antidepressant. The potential side effects of SGAs and lack of clinical evidence supporting efficacy of SGAs in depression in adolescents without psychotic symptoms are both reasons SGAs would not be prescribed for this condition.

Bipolar Disorder:
Some SGAs are indicated for treatment of bipolar disorder in adolescents. They stabilize mood as well as treat psychotic symptoms associated with mania. SGAs can be used alone or in combination with mood stabilizers to treat bipolar disorder. Often they are used in combination with mood stabilizers especially to stabilize mania in its initial phase as the mood stabilizers are titrated up.

ADHD:
SGAs are not indicated to treat ADHD. They are sometimes used in conjunction with expert consultation for off-label, preferably third-line use, for short-term treatment for significant irritability and explosive emotions/behaviours while stabilizing on first-line and/or second-line treatment. First-line treatment for ADHD includes monotherapy with long acting stimulants; second-line treatment includes short-acting stimulants, atomoxetine, or guanfacine XR (alone or in combination with long-acting stimulants). Third-line treatments include clonidine (monotherapy or in combination with stimulants), bupropion or noradrenergic tricyclic antidepressants. Comorbidities should be treated with first-line treatments specific to the individual condition.

Eating Disorders (AN, BN, ARFID):
SGAs are primarily prescribed for symptom management in severe eating disorders in children and adolescents. There are mixed results for enduring effects on weight restoration and any potential benefits are balanced with the well-established risks. For treatment of AN, there are limited positive open-label studies with the use of olanzapine. Quetiapine and aripiprazole have even fewer studies with mild benefit noted at times. Risperidone does not have evidence for use in AN. Olanzapine has limited positive reports for use in ARFID. Use of SSRIs, specifically fluoxetine, has the most evidence for bulimia nervosa, in which high doses are demonstrated to reduce purging behaviour. There are risks for increased binging with SGAs in BN. SGAs are sometimes used off-label to help with emotional and behavioral regulation or depression and anxiety symptoms, but experts should be consulted prior to initiating treatment. Comorbidities should be treated with first line agents (NOTE: bupropion is contraindicated in eating disorders secondary to increased seizure risk).

1. Weight gain management guidelines:

Situation 1:

Normal weight gain associated with growth and development

Recommendation: Repeat weight measurement at next scheduled screen. Provide information on the importance of lifestyle for decreasing risk of weight gain.

 

 

Situation 2:

Significant weight gain noted, especially within first three months of medication use and/or child is overweight, obese or has pre-existing metabolic conditions prior to starting SGA treatment

Recommendation:

1.Lifestyle intervention

Second generation antipsychotic medication use in children and youth is associated with weight gain and metabolic complications. It is therefore strongly recommended that patients receive counselling (nutrition, lifestyle and exercise) at the initiation of therapy regardless of baseline body mass index. This is particularly important in a child who is overweight, obese or has existing metabolic symptoms prior to treatment with a second generation antipsychotic medication.

2. Re-evaluate use of SGA to minimize weight gain

Consider the following questions:

  • Is the lowest effect dose being used? In particular, higher doses of risperidone and olanzapine have been associated with greater weight gain in children.
  • Can an alternative SGA be prescribed that has a lower side effect profile for weight gain?
  • Is the patient taking other medications that also cause weight gain? If yes, can they be stopped, reduced or altered?

1. Abnormal prolactin management guidelines:

Elevations in prolactin levels may be associated with signs and symptoms such as gynecomastia, galactorrhea, infertility, menstrual irregularities, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, sexual dysfunction, decreased libido, acne and hirsutism in females. However, hyperprolactinemia may be asymptomatic in some individuals, particularly in prepubertal children.

Situation 1:

Normal Prolactin

Recommendation: Repeat prolactin measurement at next scheduled screen.

Situation 2:

Abnormal Prolactin

Recommendation: Re-evaluate use of SGA:

  1. Is the lowest effective dose of the SGA being used?
  2. Can the SGA be switched to a prolactin-sparing agent, which can result in return to normal levels of prolactin within weeks?

If continued treatment with the current SGA is essential for the patient’s psychiatric illness, consult with a specialist regarding further management of the hyperprolactinemia. There are potential long-term effects of hyperprolactinemia, particularly osteoporosis, even in asymptomatic patients. This is concerning given the importance of bone mineral accrual through adolescence with peak bone mass occurring in late adolescence.

If there are clinical concerns, consider specialist consultation for further investigation regarding other causes of hyperprolactinemia and/or amenorrhea.

2. Abnormal lipid fasting profile – triglycerides management guidelines:

B. Fasting lipid profile — Triglycerides

Situation 1:

Normal TG < 1.5 mmol/L

Recommendation: Repeat TG measurement at next scheduled screen.

Situation 2:

Normal TG ≥ 1.5 mmol/L

Recommendation: Re-evaluate use of SGA to minimize weight. Consider cognitive/behavioural lifestyle intervention aimed at weight loss. Consider consultation with specialist if TG ≥ 5 mmol/L for possible medical therapy.

1. Weight gain management guidelines:

Situation 1:

Normal weight gain associated with growth and development

Recommendation: Repeat weight measurement at next scheduled screen. Provide information on the importance of lifestyle for decreasing risk of weight gain.

 

 

Situation 2:

Significant weight gain noted, especially within first three months of medication use and/or child is overweight, obese or has pre-existing metabolic conditions prior to starting SGA treatment

Recommendation:

1.Lifestyle intervention

Second generation antipsychotic medication use in children and youth is associated with weight gain and metabolic complications. It is therefore strongly recommended that patients receive counselling (nutrition, lifestyle and exercise) at the initiation of therapy regardless of baseline body mass index. This is particularly important in a child who is overweight, obese or has existing metabolic symptoms prior to treatment with a second generation antipsychotic medication.

2. Re-evaluate use of SGA to minimize weight gain

Consider the following questions:

  • Is the lowest effect dose being used? In particular, higher doses of risperidone and olanzapine have been associated with greater weight gain in children.
  • Can an alternative SGA be prescribed that has a lower side effect profile for weight gain?
  • Is the patient taking other medications that also cause weight gain? If yes, can they be stopped, reduced or altered?

2. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin complications management guidelines:

Situation 1:

Normal FPG = FPG < 6.1 mmol/L

Recommendation: Repeat FPG check at next scheduled screen. If the fasting insulin is above the upper limit of normal for the assay being used, consider an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and specialist consultation. For those individuals with an FPG value of 5.6 to 6.0 mmol/L, consider an OGTT.

Situation 2:

Impaired FPG = 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L

Recommendation: Consider OGTT and specialist consultation if abnormal. Consider metformin in consultation with a specialist.

Situation 3:

Abnormal FPG = FPG ≥ 7 mmol/L

Recommendation: Consult with specialist for the management of diabetes.

Situation 1:

Normal weight gain associated with growth and development

Recommendation: Repeat weight measurement at next scheduled screen. Provide information on the importance of lifestyle for decreasing risk of weight gain.

 

 

Situation 2:

Significant weight gain noted, especially within first three months of medication use and/or child is overweight, obese or has pre-existing metabolic conditions prior to starting SGA treatment

Recommendation:

1.Lifestyle intervention

Second generation antipsychotic medication use in children and youth is associated with weight gain and metabolic complications. It is therefore strongly recommended that patients receive counselling (nutrition, lifestyle and exercise) at the initiation of therapy regardless of baseline body mass index. This is particularly important in a child who is overweight, obese or has existing metabolic symptoms prior to treatment with a second generation antipsychotic medication.

2. Re-evaluate use of SGA to minimize weight gain

Consider the following questions:

  • Can the medication be stopped? Give strong consideration if severe side effects are encountered.
  • Is the lowest effect dose being used? In particular, higher doses of risperidone and olanzapine have been associated with greater weight gain in children.
  • Can an alternative SGA be prescribed that has a lower side effect profile for weight gain?
  • Is the patient taking other medications that also cause weight gain? If yes, can they be stopped, reduced or altered?