Convergence: Connecting Levels of Analysis in Psychological Science
In the past, our field harbored distinct, and often competing, schools of thought that tackled different problems and produced findings that often appeared to diverge. Today, investigators attack shared problems at complementary levels of analysis and produce results that converge. Studies of people in a social world; mental systems of cognition and emotion; and biological mechanisms of the genome and the nervous system interconnect and yield an integrated psychological science. The APS 23rd Annual Convention displays, and celebrates, these advances in our field.

SSCP Distinguished Scientist Award Address

Are We Overmedicating America's Children? Psychosocial, Pharmacological, Combined, and Sequenced Interventions for ADHD

Friday, May 25, 2012, 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM
Chicago Ballroom IX

William E. Pelham
Florida International University

Medication and behavior modification are evidence-based treatments for ADHD, but the former are far more frequently used (e.g., 90% of children) than the latter (10%). Few studies have evaluated issues such as combining, dosing, and sequencing interventions; long-term safety; and effectiveness. I review recent studies on these topics are that demonstrate the limitations of medication and the benefits of employing behavioral treatments as first-line.

William E. Pelham is the recipient of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology (SSCP) Distinguished Scientist Award.

Continuing Education: 1 APA Credit

Learning Objectives

This Workshop is designed to help you:

1. Describe the importance of targeting functional outcomes rather than DSM symptoms in treatment of ADHD

2. Analyze the prevalence of and limitations of medication as a treatment for ADHD

3. List the benefits of psychosocial and combined interventions for ADHD

Continuing education for psychologists is sponsored by the Psychology Department at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center (WHASC). The Psychology Department at WHASC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. WHASC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Point of contact for the CE Program is Howard Garb. He can be reached at howard.garb@us.af.mil, or 210.671.4084.

Subject Area: Clinical