Research in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Services

The Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (DCAPBS) engages in research to help clinicians better understand the underlying causes of psychological and psychiatric conditions to discover new breakthroughs in treatment. Families seeking clinical services should visit the clinical DCAPBS page.

DCAPBS' research activities include basic science and imaging research on normal and abnormal brain development; longitudinal studies which examine genetic, environmental, and neuropathological antecedents to psychopathology; and intervention research which aims to develop and study new approaches for optimizing the care and well-being of youth with a variety of medical and mental health conditions.

DCAPBS faculty are embedded within multiple centers and institutes across Children's Hospital of Philadelphia research community:

• The Lifespan Brain Institute: a CHOP-University of Pennsylvania initiative whose goal is to study brain and behavior development across the lifespan to identify early risk and protective factors for mental disorders
• The Center for Autism Research: a Center of Emphasis at CHOP that utilizes novel approaches to characterize the diversity of symptom patterns in autism spectrum disorders to develop more personalized approaches to treatment
• PolicyLab: conducts interdisciplinary research to inform programs and policy changes to achieve optimal child health and well-being
• DCAPBS faculty are also involved in the Center for Childhood Cancer Research and the Center for Injury Research and Prevention.