Rogers' Specialists Address Advanced Treatment for Resistant Depression at American Psychiatric Association Conference

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Apr 24, 2014, 01:55 ET

OCONOMOWOC, Wis., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Jerry L. Halverson, M.D., FAPA, and Rachel C. Leonard, Ph.D., members of the psychiatric team at Rogers Memorial Hospital, will be featured presenters at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), May 3-7, in New York City. The largest annual psychiatric meeting, the APA conference draws more than 16,000 attendees from around the globe, with a variety of mental health professionals and advocates including practicing, administrative and consultative psychiatrists, researchers and educators of psychiatry, residents and students among them.

Jerry L. Halverson, M.D., FAPA, and Rachel C. Leonard, Ph.D., members of the psychiatric team at Rogers Memorial Hospital, will be featured presenters at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), May 3-7, in New York City. Dr. Halverson, medical director of adult services and the FOCUS residential treatment program for young adults, and Dr. Leonard, a behavioral activation specialist and clinical supervisor, will present the workshop, “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Group Treatment of Depression” on Sunday, May 4. (PRNewsFoto/Rogers Memorial Hospital)

Dr. Halverson, medical director of adult services and the FOCUS residential treatment program for young adults, and Dr. Leonard, a behavioral activation specialist and clinical supervisor, will present the workshop, "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Group Treatment of Depression" on Sunday, May 4.

"Depression contributes to significant distress and disability," Dr. Halverson said. "By 2020, it is estimated that it will be the second most common health problem worldwide. Unfortunately, while numerous treatment approaches exist for depression today, many individuals fail to significantly respond to standard outpatient treatment."

The workshop will provide an overview on patients who are likely to benefit from a multimodal intensive treatment approach with a strong cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) component, along with accepted treatment guidelines and pharmacologic approaches and combined psychotherapies. Dr. Halverson and Dr. Leonard will also address specific CBT treatment techniques, including behavioral activation, which has been beneficial for those with major depressive disorder and severe depressive symptoms.

The APA is a medical specialty society recognized worldwide. Its over 38,000 U.S. and international member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with a mental disorder, including mental retardation and substance-related disorders.

Rogers Memorial Hospital is a key corporation of Rogers Behavioral Health System, which also includes: Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc.; Rogers Partners in Behavioral Health, LLC; Rogers Center for Research and Training; and Rogers InHealth. The hospital has become nationally recognized for its specialized residential treatment services and affiliations with academic institutions and teaching hospitals in the area. Rogers Memorial Hospital is currently Wisconsin's largest not-for-profit, private behavioral health hospital, providing adults, children and adolescents with depression and mood disorders treatment, eating disorders treatment, addiction treatment, obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders treatment, as well as caring for a variety of other child and adolescent mental health concerns. For more information, please visit www.rogershospital.org.