BALTIMORE, June 4, 2026—Two physicians at Kennedy Krieger Institute have released a second edition of their textbook, helping bridge a gap between neurology and psychiatry for children and adolescents. Pediatric Neuropsychiatry: A Case-Based Approach explores pediatric neuropsychiatry by using real patient cases to examine how brain-based disorders present and are treated in young patients.
The updated edition includes 20 new chapters, revised case studies and expanded material on topics such as opioid use, COVID-19–related neurological and psychiatric effects, and trauma, including refugee experiences. The second edition includes contributions from 142 authors across three countries and 19 U.S. states, reflecting a broader collaboration than the first edition.
Pediatric neuropsychiatry, which addresses conditions that overlap neurology and psychiatry, remains less standardized than its adult counterpart. Clinicians often must consider both current brain function and prior neurodevelopment when evaluating patients, particularly in complex or rare cases.
Dr. Jay Salpekar, medical director of the Neuropsychiatry Program at Kennedy Krieger and a co-editor of the book, said the field requires coordination across specialties to better address patient needs.
“Patients would see a neurologist and a psychiatrist, but those clinicians couldn’t connect the dots to provide comprehensive care,” Salpekar said.
Co-editor Dr. Aaron Hauptman, associate director of neuropsychiatry at the Institute, said the book is intended as both a clinical resource and a reflection of patient and family experiences, with chapters that include personal perspectives.
“We wanted to give patients and families the opportunity to feel less isolated," Hauptman said.
The textbook is available through Springer Publishing and major booksellers.
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About Kennedy Krieger Institute:
Kennedy Krieger Institute, an internationally known, nonprofit organization located in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C., region, transforms the lives of nearly 30,000 individuals a year through inpatient and outpatient medical, behavioral health and wellness therapies; home and community services; school-based programs; training and education for professionals; and advocacy. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults with diseases, disorders and injuries that impact the nervous system, ranging from mild to severe. The Institute is home to a team of investigators who contribute to the understanding of how disorders develop, while at the same time pioneering new interventions and methods of early diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Visit KennedyKrieger.org for more information about Kennedy Krieger.
