By submitting a traditional poster, you will have the opportunity to be considered for one of two specific Poster programs at the Annual Meeting: the Data Blitz or Pipeline program. Please see below for specifics about each of those programs. If you wish your poster to be considered for one of these programs, please indicate which one when you submit your poster.

NOTE: Submissions not selected for the Data Blitz or Pipeline will still receive full consideration for acceptance as New Research Posters.

GUIDELINES

A Poster submission should follow these guidelines in order to be considered by the Program Committee for the 2026 Annual Meeting program:

• Include the required Proceedings Abstract that incorporates appropriate descriptions of the study’s purpose and main hypotheses, research design and method of diagnostic ascertainment, study sample size, pertinent statistical tests with the value of test statistics, degrees of freedom, p values, effect sizes and/or confidence intervals on main findings, and a summary of the study’s clinical implications, limitations, and conclusions.
• Can include up to two (2) presenting authors and up to ten (10) additional authors. Please see the submission roles and responsibilities to understand the difference.
• Clinical case series (Minimal N=10) will be considered but must include detailed, rigorous quantitative measures that support interpretations and conclusions. Single case or N=1 presentations and small case series (N<10) will not be considered.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Each submission for a New Research Poster should include the following items:

• Submission Title (no more than 20 words)
• Primary Author’s affiliation, contact information and email address
  • Maximum of two (2)
• At least two (2) educational learning objectives
• Proceedings Abstract
• Names, organizations, contact information, email addresses, and disclosures for all co-authors

CONTENT ADDRESSING ETHICAL AND INCLUSIVE CLINICAL EDUCATION

AACAP is deeply committed to advancing mental health access and quality care across populations. We support training and practice approaches that help clinicians provide effective, person-centered, and contextually informed care for individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences.

We strongly encourage presenters to consider including content that examines variations in prevalence, diagnosis, or treatment across varied cultures, groups, and communities — or to explore other meaningful ways to integrate principles that promote inclusion and ethical care into their presentations. This may include inviting presenters with a range of perspectives, incorporating insights from individuals with personal or community experience, or drawing from the setting of Atlanta to enrich the session content in ways that reflect AACAP’s mission.

If such information is limited or not included in a presenter’s work, we ask that speakers acknowledge these gaps and highlight the need for continued efforts to better meet the needs of diverse communities in research and practice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Literature reviews may be submitted for consideration. We will prioritize reviews that use formal methods to synthesize data. Please consider the guidance for JAACAP Instructions for Authors. Please follow the PRISMA checklist for abstract submission. Though a poster is an excellent stepping stone to publication, please also consider the increasing importance of registering your review.

AACAP encourages presenters to consider unique, less traditional formats for poster presentations. For example, consider formatting a poster highlighting take-home points (conclusions) of the study while providing methodology and data presentation in a less central manner. This format is likely to enhance the experience for those attending poster sessions. For an example of a novel approach to developing posters, please view this video.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If accepted, the Poster’s primary author(s) will present the data in a graphic form on an 8 ft. long by 4 ft. high poster board or smaller. Up to ten (10) authors may be added to the Poster submission, but only two (2) of those authors can be listed as presenting authors (the person or people who actually present the poster in Atlanta). These two (2) presenting authors are the only two that qualify for the speaker registration rate.

Acceptance of a New Research Poster for presentation is an honor, and it holds the same status as any other Annual Meeting presentation. In addition to offering an opportunity for clear and detailed presentation of the data, there is a greater opportunity for interaction and discussion between the author and interested attendees.

DEADLINE

New Research Poster submissions must be submitted online by June 4, 2026. There can be no exceptions. Notification of acceptance is made in early August via email to the primary author(s) of the poster.

This deadline will be enforced. The submission page will close at 5:00 pm Eastern, June 4, 2026, and late submissions cannot be accepted. Incomplete submissions will be automatically rejected.

DATA BLITZ AND RESEARCH PIPELINE SUBMISSION OPTIONS

The Data Blitz is a 3-hour session during the annual meeting, including 1.5 hours of presentation, and 1.5 hours of mentorship that allows early career investigators with compelling pilot data the opportunity to present their work within a structured symposium format, including engagement with senior researcher discussants. Investigators interested in consideration for this option, in lieu of a traditional poster presentation, should check the appropriate box in the submission form (Step 1).

The Research Pipeline is a 2-hour session during the Annual Meeting that provides an opportunity to present the findings from recently completed industry or other commercially sponsored trials within a structured oral presentation format. Topics may include, but are not limited to: new pharmaceutical, device, diagnostic, and biotechnology data. Submissions accepted for the Research Pipeline will be presented within a structured symposium format that includes the opportunity for formal questions, answers, and commentary from senior discussants. Investigators interested in consideration for this option, in lieu of a traditional poster presentation, should check the appropriate box in the submission form (Step 1).

NOTE ABOUT CME CREDIT

CME credit is NOT provided for attendance at a Poster session or the Research Pipeline session. However, any source of funding for studies presented must be disclosed with presenters’ conflicts of interest in the submission and included on the final poster. Data Blitz presentations are eligible for CME credit.

STUDENT AND TRAINEE SUBMISSIONS

AACAP highly encourages and supports program submissions from presenters with bachelor's-level degrees, students, and current trainees (residents, fellows, and post-docs). The Program Committee requires that all Student/Trainee submissions be reviewed and approved by a senior co-author/mentor prior to final submission.

WHAT IS A PROCEEDINGS ABSTRACT?

A "Proceedings Abstract," not exceeding 2,000 characters in length (not including spaces, approximately 350 words), is required for all New Research Poster proposals. These abstracts should describe the objectives, methods, results, and conclusions of the research being presented and will be published in a supplemental issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry that is published in October 2026. It must be organized using the following four headings:

• Objectives
• Methods (e.g., data, data analyses, sample size)
• Results
• Conclusions

START YOUR SUBMISSION

AACAP will accept up to approximately 400 Posters this year. All Posters must have submitted a proposal by one of the two deadlines above to be considered for the scientific program at the Annual Meeting. To submit a Poster for consideration, select “Begin a Submission” at the top or bottom right-hand side of this page.

Questions regarding Posters can be directed to can be directed to meetings@aacap.org.