Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

After having been banned for reasons that had little to do with science, psychedelics resuscitated and now spark hopes and enthusiasm. Psychedelics and compounds that affect consciousness should undergo the same rigorous development process as any other drug, including their potential use in pediatric psychopharmacology to avoid unrealistic enthusiasm and politicization of science, as seen in the 1960s. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health is inviting submissions for a special collection on Navigating the Complexity of Psychedelics' Therapeutic Potential in Minors. This series wants to pave the way to these uncharted psychedelic pediatric territories. We aim to offer a unique forum to discuss topics ranging from investigating the neurodevelopmental and neurobiological effects of psychedelics in a developing brain, emphasizing ethical considerations, highlighting assessments of risks versus benefits, promoting best practices for clinical trials, reflecting on the regulatory moving framework to exploring the potential integration of psychedelics in pediatric therapeutic strategies. Submissions will be considered through Feb 2025.

Nonbinary gender identities are prominent among gender diverse youth, having increased significantly over the last decade. Leading theories in support of gender diversity argue that greater acceptance, the availability of more descriptive and inclusive language, and diverse sociocultural forces are behind the apparent rise in transgender youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health is inviting submissions for a special issue on Understanding Nonbinary and Gender Diverse Youth. Articles should focus on attempts to deepen our understanding of non-binary gender identity, and we welcome manuscripts of diverse methods including quantitative and qualitative clinical research, as well as systematic approaches to reviews. We also encourage submissions from gender diverse researchers whose personal experiences provide invaluable insights in the study of this area. Interested authors are welcome to reach out to the guest editor, Dr. Jamie D. Agapoff (she/they), at JAgapoff@dop.hawaii.edu, to propose a manuscript and receive some initial input on suitability for this special issue. Submissions will be considered through June 2024.

Andreas Witt, Dipl.-Psych., Dr. phil. After studying Psychology at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the Auckland University of Technology, Dr. Andreas Witt completed his training as a licensed Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at the Ausbildungszentrum für Verhaltenstherapie (AZVT) at the Medical Department of the University of Ulm. He specialized in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and the treatment of PTSD in children and adolescents. He obtained his Doctorate at the University of Ulm, where he focused on the course and consequences of child maltreatment. He is currently the clinical co-head of child and adolescent forensic section of the University Hospital of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, a Lecturer, and Co-Chair of the Workgroup on Child and Adolescent Psychotraumatology of the German Speaking Society of Psychotraumatology (DeGPT). Dr. Witt leads various research projects mainly focusing on interventions for children and adolescents in foster care, child maltreatment and child welfare.