Pediatrics-Psychiatry-Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Pediatricians and psychiatrists (adult and child and adolescent) have traditionally been trained in the physical and emotional aspects of patient care. Psychiatrists have been expected to be familiar with organic illnesses presented as psychiatric disorders, while pediatricians have been trained to recognize physical manifestations of psychiatric disease. Acknowledging the large overlap in the domains of these specialties and the increasing need for specialists trained to treat the broad spectrum of illness shared by pediatrics and psychiatry, the specialties have agreed to offer combined training in preparation for certification in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry.

The objectives of a combined residency in pediatrics-psychiatry-child and adolescent psychiatry include the training of general physicians for practice/academic careers that address the spectrum of mental and emotional illnesses in the newborn, children, adolescents, and adults. Graduates of a combined residency may function in clinical practice and academic environments or enter into further subspecialty training. This clinical training can also prepare graduates to undertake research training in areas shared by psychiatry and pediatrics.