PNNS 38th Annual Conference

  • 8 Mar 2025
  • 8:30 AM - 4:45 PM
  • Wisteria Hall, Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, WA

 PNNS 38th Annual Conference 
Functional Neurological Disorders
in Kids & Teens

Michael W. Kirkwood, PhD, ABPP-CN
&

AI Applications in Neuropsychology
Jonathan Deright, PhD, ABPP


Morning Presentation (9:00 - 12:00)

Functional Neurological Disorders
in Kids & Teens:

The State of the Science and Recommendations for Practice


Michael W. Kirkwood, PhD, ABPP-CN
Director, Rehabilitation Psychology & Neuropsychology
Children’s Hospital Colorado
&
Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora, CO

Dr. Kirkwood is a Professor in the Department of PM&R at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Director of the Rehabilitation Psychology & Neuropsychology Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He is also a founder and co-director of the hospital’s Concussion Program and Rehabilitation FND Program. He is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with subspecialty certification in pediatric neuropsychology. His clinical and research interests focus on pediatric TBI, FND, and validity testing. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is the editor/author of 4 scientific books.

Functional neurological disorders (FND) and related conditions have been recognized for centuries and occur commonly across multiple healthcare settings. A vast literature has focused on FND in adults. Relatively little attention has been devoted to pediatric FND, particularly within neuropsychology. This workshop will provide an overview of the extant pediatric research. Current conceptualizations will be reviewed including how the field has moved away from diagnosing by exclusion to the need for positive markers. Common risk factors, symptom presentations, and areas of controversy will be examined. Pediatric clinical management is not yet evidence-based, but promising empirically grounded recommendations will be provided. Cases will be used to illustrate the importance of a biopsychosocial approach to clinical evaluation and management. The role of neuropsychology in multidisciplinary care will be explored, as will ideas for establishing and running a pediatric FND clinic.

Learning Objectives

1)     Describe the base rate of FND and related conditions in children and teens.

2)     Examine risk factors and presentations for pediatric FND.

3)     Explain the role of the pediatric neuropsychologist in multidisciplinary FND care, as well as empirically-grounded clinical management strategies.



Afternoon Presentation (1:30 - 4:30)

AI Applications in Neuropsychology


Jonathan Deright, PhD, ABPP
Private Practice in Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychology
McLean, VA

Jonathan DeRight is a board certified neuropsychologist and works in clinical and forensic settings in the Washington, DC metro area, including Virginia and Maryland. He earned his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at the University of Rochester and completed his PhD at Syracuse University. He went on to complete a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.





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