Bernard Biermann

Bernard Biermann, M.D., Ph.D. serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School. His clinical and research work focuses on child and adolescent psychiatry with particular expertise in psychiatric emergency services, suicide prevention, and care for youth with autism spectrum disorders.

Dr. Biermann's research interests encompass several critical areas in pediatric mental health including inpatient psychiatry, adolescent mood and substance use disorders, suicide prevention strategies, and treatment approaches for youth with autistic spectrum disorders. His work often examines vulnerable populations in crisis situations, with recent studies focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents presenting to psychiatric emergency services.

His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly activity with recent work examining characteristics of children with neurodevelopmental disorders in psychiatric emergency settings, health risk behaviors among hospitalized youth, and trauma exposure comparisons between psychiatrically hospitalized youth and community samples. The research shows a clear pattern of investigating clinical challenges in child and adolescent psychiatric emergencies and developing evidence-based approaches for high-risk youth populations.

• Significant contributions to understanding psychiatric emergency care for youth with autism spectrum disorders
• Research on suicide prevention interventions including motivational interviewing-enhanced safety planning
• Studies examining health risk behaviors and trauma exposure in hospitalized youth
• Work on somatic symptom disorders in pediatric psychiatric populations
• Investigation of ADHD diagnosis and management approaches

Dr. Biermann's clinical work appears integrated with the Youth and Young Adult Depression and Suicide Prevention Program at the University of Michigan, where he contributes to developing best practices for treating complex pediatric mental health conditions. His dual MD/PhD training and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry provide a strong foundation for his work addressing the most acute presentations of mental illness in young people.