(PS2-2) Beyond Diagnosis: A Transdiagnostic Approach to Complex Care Rounds in Inpatient Psychiatry

Abstract Text:
Managing complex cases in inpatient psychiatry requires structured interdisciplinary collaboration to address transdiagnostic factors such as emotion dysregulation, cognitive distortions, and behavioral avoidance. However, traditional rounds often lack a consistent psychological framework for conceptualizing these challenges and guiding treatment interventions.

This poster explores the role of clinical psychologists in leading weekly Complex Care Conferences (CCC) within inpatient psychiatric settings. By applying a CBT-informed, transdiagnostic approach, psychologists enhance case conceptualization, treatment planning, and patient outcomes. CCC integrates evidence-based interventions such as behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring, and distress tolerance skills, supporting both in-hospital treatment and post-discharge continuity of care.

CCC serves as a dedicated space for the multidisciplinary team (including psychologists, attending psychiatrists, residents, social workers, dietitians, and nurses) to discuss challenging cases and develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans. Cultural considerations that may influence a patient’s thought patterns, emotional responses, and behavioral presentations are prioritized to ensure culturally responsive care. CCC also fosters team collaboration, enhances provider confidence, and strengthens therapeutic relationships between staff and patients (Kramarz et al., 2018).

To maximize accessibility, CCC meetings are conducted in person and virtually, ensuring all team members can contribute. Each discipline plays an active role in identifying actionable steps to implement during hospitalization and to support patients post-discharge.

By embedding CBT principles into interdisciplinary rounds, CCC offers a scalable model for improving inpatient psychiatric care. This presentation will share our experiences implementing CCC, discussing its benefits, challenges, and strategies for adaptation in other inpatient settings. We aim to encourage other psychologists to adopt this framework, further integrating CBT-based, transdiagnostic approaches into hospital-based psychiatric care.