For more than 50 years, the world-class scientists and facilities of the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) have focused primarily on adult brain disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, developing new approaches to diagnosis, treatment and prevention. With the appointment Harold S. Koplewicz , M.D. as its third Executive Director (who is double-boarded in psychiatry and child adolescent psychiatry) and the addition of new staff expertise in the area of children's mental health research, NKI is now poised to assume a leadership role in addressing the needs of New Yorkers across the lifespan from birth to old age.

Since almost 75 percent of all adult mental illness begins in childhood and adolescence, it makes human and economic sense to identify and treat these disorders early to prevent future disease and disability. It is estimated that about 1 in 10 young people suffers from a mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder that impairs the quality of their life and causes stress for their families, schools and communities. Yet, too often, these problems remain undiagnosed or unaddressed because of gaps in existing treatments, services or research.

Working collaboratively with the staff of the New York University Child Study Center (founded and headed by Dr. Koplewicz) and the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), NKI has expanded the breadth of its research to include child and adolescent psychiatric research. As part of this effort, OMH is building a new state-of-the-art Rockland Children's Psychiatric Center adjacent to NKI on the Orangeburg campus. This new generation of clinician/researchers will strengthen the extant knowledge base on child and adolescent mental health, leading to improved policy and practice for all New Yorkers.

Programs

Tourette and Tic Disorders Program
Trauma and Resilience Program
Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program