Available for the 26-27 Training Year

ELECTIVE DESCRIPTION:

The CHAMP Clinic is a UCLA program that focuses on differential diagnosis and treatment of pediatric mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and major depression. The CHAMP Clinic involves three components: comprehensive diagnostic assessment of pediatric illness, pharmacological treatment, and psychological treatment.

The Clinic sees many patients with complicated and highly comorbid clinical presentations and focuses on providing a comprehensive differential diagnostic evaluation, using the “Kiddie” Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) as a format. Under faculty supervision, trainees take lead roles in conducting these evaluations and receive supervision in differential diagnosis.

CHAMP is one of the few rotations where one can get concentrated training in family therapy. Family treatment is manual-guided, evidence-based, and relatively brief (e.g., up to 12 sessions). It is based primarily on the family-focused therapy (FFT) model of care, which is both strategic and psychoeducational in orientation. Mood and behavior management techniques are used to teach families and children effective communication and problem-solving skills. Psychoeducation is used to teach coping skills for managing mood episodes (e.g., manic episodes of bipolar disorder) and prevent future episodes. Often, strategic or structural family therapy techniques are included (e.g., modifying dysfunctional interactions, strengthening alliances between family members). Supervision involves live observation of family intervention sessions via video or Zoom with a team that includes three experienced licensed clinical psychologists.

Medication backup for patients is provided by our child psychiatrist, Drs. Horstmann, and child psychiatry fellows under her supervision. Psychology trainees gain exposure to psychopharmacological interventions through the co-management of patients with mood disorders who require medication as well as psychological treatments.

CHAMP is a good way to get experience with diagnostic assessment, family therapy or both for adolescents and children with mood disorders, experience which will be essential to future clinical practice

For more information and to sign up for this elective, contact David Miklowitz, DMiklowitz@mednet.ucla.edu

DAY, TIME, AND LOCATION:

Mondays 12 pm – 6pm Semel, Room A8-256

Interns may select either the assessment or therapy elective within the clinic, or they may elect both. The assessment elective (including supervision) runs from 12-2:15 pm and the therapy elective (including supervision) runs from 2:15pm-6pm.

HOURS PER WEEK: 2.25 (assessment) or 3.5 (therapy)

DURATION OF ELECTIVE: 6 months

SUPERVISION PROVIDED:

Method of Supervision: Direct Observation, Videotape, Case Presentation

Format: Group

Hours Per Week: 3.5 group

Days and Times: Monday 2:15 – 6:00 PM

Names of Supervisor(s): David Miklowitz, Sarah Marvin, Patricia Walshaw, Alissa Ellis, Angus Strachan, and Elizabeth Horstmann