Grant: Emerging Team Grant: Co-morbidity of brain disorders & other health problems-LOI

This proposed research will identify, develop and evaluate innovative and integrative models of service delivery to address co-occurring disorders within a developmentally-informed, community-collaborative framework. The objectives are to: 1) prepare the groundwork for improved treatment for children, youth and families, 2) increase collaboration amongst disciplines and service sectors, 3) develop strategies to reduce barriers to effective treatment and 4) help establish an integrated network of health services and research. A longitudinal framework will be used to follow the developmental trajectories of distinct groups of children and youth at risk for or currently having co-occurring disorders. This approach will help clarify the sequence of disorder emergence among youth with co-morbid disorders (i.e., psychiatric disorder preceding substance abuse or substance abuse followed by the emergence of psychiatric disorder) and facilitate better understanding of various risk and protective factors for these distinct groups. Importantly, we will also develop validated screening and assessment tools and innovative treatments along a continuum from less intense forms of intervention such as consultative approaches to more intense treatments, including approaches that draw upon the principles of dialectal behaviour therapy. These will be developed in partnership with community-based stakeholders to ensure their relevance, feasibility and utility. We will also examine service provider knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation children and youth with co-occurring disorders and enhance capacity by implementing collaboratively developed knowledge exchange strategies. We will utilize web based approaches to extend our reach for distance learning and by using our well established Telepsychiatry program. Moreover, education and training will be a high priority, with students from across health disciplines and research perspectives involved in all aspects of this project.