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Professional Training

MSc / PG Diploma / PG Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Group of children

This programme aims to foster the application of critical and analytical thinking skills to theory, policy and practice in child and adolescent mental health and is designed for postgraduate doctors, graduate psychologists and practitioners in the health/education/social work fields.

The course Directors are based in the Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, and the availability of a number of optional clinical placements at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust offers added value experience to suitably qualified candidates.

Modules include: Introduction to Child & Adolescent Mental Health; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Treatment; Professionalism; International perspectives; and Transition to Adult Care.

ADOS and 3Di

The Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit works closely alongside clinicians in the Social Communication Disorders Clinical Team at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Through this link, the BBSU offers training in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic Interview (3Di).  The 3Di interview was developed initially to assist professional training in the interviewing of parents with children suspected of having an autistic disorder. The format was designed to be simple to learn, to offer high levels of inter-rater reliability, and to instruct the interviewer in the appropriate domains of content about which to enquire.

ADOS - Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

ADOS is a semi-structured standardized assessment of communication, social interaction and play or imaginative use of materials, for individuals suspect to having possible autism or an autism spectrum disorder. The protocol consists of a series of structured and semi-structured tasks that involve social interaction between the examiner and the subject. This in turn provides a standardized assessment of autistic symptoms.

To find out more about the ADOS training and forthcoming programmes, please refer to the National Centre for High Functioning Autism website.

3Di - Developmental, Dimensional and Diagnostic Interview

''a revolutionary, computer based interview for the diagnosis of autism and related disorders in children''

3Di is a computer based programme used to diagnose autism and related disorders in children. Its main features include:

  • Computes severity of features associated with autism. 
  • Computes level of behavioural adjustment.
  • Measures comorbidities across the full range of child psychiatric disorders.
  • Allows a comprehensive assessment of autism in as little as 45 minutes and provides a comprehensive report.
  • Provides an audit trail invaluable for clinical governance.
  • Excellent agreement with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.

The interview emulates Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI-R) algorithms, but unlike that interview it is focused largely on current rather than historical behaviour of note. Consequently, it has high levels of agreement with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) in clinically significant autistic disorders.

The 3Di training consists of a 2 day programme which is run on a monthly basis and is usually located at the Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH.

To find out more information about the programme, please refer to the 3Di interview website.

To find out about forthcoming training sessions, cost and special regional courses, please refer to the National Centre for High Functioning Autism Training and Event website.




Page last modified on 01 nov 12 12:25