Barcelona snapshots

Prof. Celso Arango

Celso Arango psychiatrist Controversies Psiquiatry Barcelona
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
Talk Innovation in Child and adolescent Psychiatry
Date Friday, April 11th, 2025
Time 14:30 - 15:15
Panel Innovation in Psychotherapy

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Celso Arango is a scientist, physician, and professor of psychiatry who has developed significant neurobiological research on the etiology and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. He is the Director of the Institute of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Gregorio Marañón University General Hospital and Head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service at the same hospital. A Professor of Psychiatry at several universities in the USA, the United Kingdom, and Spain, he is a Numerary Member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain and a Member of the National Academy of Medicine of the USA since 2023. He is one of the most cited bioscientists according to Stanford University. He has participated in more than 77 research projects and has published over 700 articles, 11 books, and 46 book chapters. He has trained generations of researchers in neuroscience and neurodevelopmental disorders.

  • Member of the European Brain Council (advisory body to the European Commission).
  • Cross of the Civil Order of Health, with distinction and in the category of Commander, awarded by the Ministry of Health and Consumption in 2008.
  • President of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) from 2016 to 2020.
  • Director of the international course New Frontiers in Digital Health since 2017.
  • President of the Spanish Society of Psychiatry (SEP) from 2019 to June 2022.
  • President of the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SEPySM) from January 2022 to June 2022.
  • President of the National Commission of the Psychiatry Specialty of the Ministry of Health from 2020 to 2023.
  • Advisor to the EMA and AEM.
  • Member of the Executive Committee of the World Psychiatric Association since December 2020.
  • Numerary Member of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain since 2022.
  • Member of the National Psychiatry Commission of the Ministry of Universities since 2023.
  • Margarita Salas Award in the category of scientific career. November 2023.

ABSTRACT

Psychopharmacological treatment is a key component of the multimodal approach to managing mental health conditions in children and adolescents. Despite significant advancements, there remain substantial unmet needs, alongside emerging opportunities and risks, in the pharmacological treatment of paediatric mental disorders. In this tall I will review the current landscape of paediatric psychopharmacology, highlighting existing evidence, future developments, and critical areas for innovation.

Many psychotropic drugs prescribed in paediatrics have been extrapolated from adult treatments, leading to gaps in knowledge regarding their long-term effects, optimal dosing, and developmental implications. The field is in urgent need of targeted, paediatric-specific research to improve safety and efficacy profiles.

Promising medications in development offer hope for addressing these gaps. Advances in neuroscience, genetics, and biomarker research pave the way for novel drug discovery, including precision medicine approaches tailored to individual biological and psychological profiles. However, challenges persist in translating these scientific breakthroughs into approved treatments, particularly due to regulatory and ethical complexities in conducting paediatric trials.

Additionally, innovations in clinical trial methodology are transforming the way research is conducted, reported, and disseminated. Adaptive trial designs, real-world evidence studies, and digital health technologies (such as wearable devices and remote monitoring) present new opportunities to enhance data collection and improve study feasibility. Increased collaboration between academia, industry, and regulatory agencies is essential to accelerate progress.

Moving forward, crucial priorities for the field include ensuring greater investment in paediatric psychopharmacology, fostering global research collaborations, and addressing disparities in access to evidence-based treatments. Balancing innovation with ethical responsibility will be key to advancing safe and effective pharmacological options for children and adolescents. By embracing these challenges and opportunities, the future of paediatric psychopharmacology holds promise for more personalized, effective, and accessible treatments that improve the mental health and well-being of young patients worldwide.

REFERENCES