More than one thousand mental health and scientific experts specializing in anxiety, depression, PTSD, and OCD will attend the Anxiety and Depression Conference 2015, sponsored by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). They will meet April 9–12 at the Hyatt Regency Miami, in Miami, Fla. Some of the most experienced and knowledgeable clinicians and researchers will discuss new scientific research and treatment approaches for mood and anxiety disorders.
Under the conference theme Translating Research, Innovating Practice, experts will present their findings and clinical experience. For more details, visit the ADAA website at adaa.org/conference.
Among more than 150 presentations, these topics will be presented:
- How Boston-area families function after the Marathon bombing
- Yoga for mental health
- What clinicians need to know about mobile mental health apps
- Couple-based PTSD therapy for returning veterans and their partners
- Anxiety and depression in people with autism spectrum disorder
- How parents can help their children who don’t want their help
New this year is a clinical practice symposium, “Addressing Treatment Resistance: When Good Treatment Is Not Enough.” Expert clinicians will present their perspectives on treating a very complex case of anxiety and depression, applying the best psychosocial and pharmacotherapy approaches.
World-renowned psychologist David Barlow, PhD, will deliver the Jerilyn Ross Lecture “Should We Be Treating Neuroticism Instead of Anxiety and Depression?” on Saturday morning. His clinical research focuses on understanding the nature of anxiety and depression and developing new treatments for emotional disorders. He has published more than 575 articles and chapters and more than 75 books, mostly in the area of the nature and treatment of emotional disorders.
A full-day workshop with Reid Wilson, PhD, “Changing the Anxious Mind — Rapidly,” will demonstrate a rapid-gain treatment model for panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and OCD.
Thirteen renowned master clinicians will present two-hour sessions on treatments for perfectionism, personality disorders, trauma, as well as compassion-focused therapy for anxiety and depression, and other topics.
The day prior to the conference an expert panel will convene for “Anxious Children in School: Becoming Part of the Solution,” on Wed. afternoon. This workshop is free and open to the public at the Hyatt Regency Miami. Three CE credits are available for $25.
Expert Speakers
George Koob, PhD, Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), will present a plenary “The Intersection of Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction” on Friday morning. And Helen Mayberg, MD, will deliver the keynote address, “What Has Deep Brain Stimulation Taught Us About the Neurocircuitry of Depression?” on Thursday evening.
Many Miami-area experts will present talks, including Jill Ehrenreich-May, PhD, University of Miami; Eric Storch, PhD, University of South Florida; Phillip Seibell, MD, Rogers Behavioral Health-Tampa Bay; Jon Comer, Florida International University; Kiara Timpano, PhD, University of Miami; Vera Joffe, PhD, PA, in Coral Springs; Bruce Hyman, PhD, OCD Resource Center of Florida; and Jonathan Hoffman, PhD, Tara Zuckerman, PsyD, and Jason Spielman, PsyD, all of the NeuroBehavioral Institute in Weston.
Anxiety and Depresssive Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the best understood brain disorders, with available effective evidence-based psychological and pharmacological treatments. These disorders interfere with daily functioning for 40 million adults in the U.S., and they are the most common mental illness in children, affecting one in eight. As many as two-thirds of adults with an anxiety disorder were undiagnosed or untreated as children. Anxiety disorders are considered gateway disorders because they often lead to other disorders, including depression, substance use and suicide attempts.
Depressive disorders affect about 19 million adults. More than 50 percent of people diagnosed with depression also have an anxiety disorder. Comorbid anxiety and depression account for the most disabling mental health disorders in the United States.
The media will have opportunities to interview experts and attend all sessions. A complete list of sessions and new-research posters, including abstracts, is available online.
