At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we understand that mood disorders in children and youth look different than they do in adults. Symptoms may come and go and can be intense or not. It takes experts in pediatric behavioral and mental health to determine the correct diagnosis, which drives your child's customized treatment plan. Here's how our Child and Adolescent Mood Program (CHAMP) works:

Evaluation appointment

Before your first appointment, we will ask you to complete questionnaires about your child’s symptoms, quality of life and other topics. This information will help us make the best treatment plan for your child.

Your child's first appointment with the CHAMP will be with both a parent or guardian and the child. It will last approximately four hours. A psychiatrist, psychologist or another expert will talk with you and your child about topics such as your child’s current symptoms, school performance, your family history, home life and other significant events in your lives. We will talk with parents separately, the child separately and everyone together.

Feedback appointment

After the evaluation appointment, the CHAMP team reviews all of the information from your child’s evaluation and other assessments to determine a diagnosis and create an individualized treatment plan for your child. We will schedule a feedback appointment to take place about a week after your first appointment.

During the feedback appointment, we will discuss the results of the evaluation and talk with you about your child’s diagnosis. We will provide information about the diagnosis to help you better understand and cope with your child’s emotions and behaviors.

We will also discuss recommendations for treatment. Your child’s treatment might include therapy with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. In some cases, we may also recommend medication to help manage your child’s symptoms.

We will work closely with your child’s pediatrician and other specialists to provide the best coordinated care. If you don’t live near CHOP, we can refer you to a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist closer to your home. We will talk to this person about your child’s diagnosis and treatment plan.

Preparing for your visit

In most cases, insurance will cover the cost of CHAMP appointments. CHOP has insurance specialists who can help resolve any insurance issues.

If you have records from any previous evaluations (including psychiatric assessments, educational testing or individual education plans), it is important to bring these to your first appointment.