CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY

Syllabus for the MRCPsych Paper B

  1. The effects of adult mental illness on children, including the effects of maternal mental health on children and young people at different developmental stages. 
  2. As an exemplar, the effect of depression on parental functioning and interactions, and the impact of this on child development and functioning. 
  3. An understanding of cultural variations in etiology and management.   
  4. Short- and long-term effects of negative life events on development and functioning, e.g., maternal loss, child abuse, chronic or life-threatening illness.    
  5. Description of a typical child mental health service, the role within this service of the psychiatrist and multidisciplinary team members. 
  6. Basic information on different agencies involved in the care of children and their function.  
  7. Child protection. The needs of developing children and how these change with time. 
  8. Types of child abuse and their etiology and recognition. 
  9. An understanding of what to do if child protection concerns are raised.   
  10. Interaction between psychiatric disorder and physical illness in children and adolescents. 
  11. Physical presentation of psychiatric disorder and psychiatric presentation of physical disorder.   
  12. Etiological influences in child and adolescent psychiatry, including individual, familial, and social and environmental influences and their interactions   
  13. Evidence-based interventions child mental health and developmental conditions (as defined in ICD and DSM) and the care pathways that enable access to those interventions 
  14. Continuities and transitions of child mental health conditions into adult life.    
  15. Indications and contra-indications for different treatment interventions. Indications for in-patient care.  


Knowledge of the prevalence/incidence, etiology, presentation, treatments, and outcome of the following conditions including an understanding of how conditions relate to behaviors (e.g., self-harm, refusal to attend school, etc.) and contexts (e.g., pre-school behaviors):  

Attachment disorders  

Conduct disorder  

ADHD     

Anxiety disorders including OCD  

Affective Disorders  

Psychosis     

Eating disorders  

Autism

Spectrum disorders  

Substance misuse  

Tic disorders  

Other childhood disorders