Measurement Issues: Depression measures in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Since the recognition of youth depression, numerous instruments have been developed, but there is little consensus regarding their use. In recent years, a national programme for outcome measurement has been introduced in the United Kingdom. METHOD: A pragmatic literature search was conducted to select instruments commonly used to measure depression either in research or as recommended by UK national bodies. RESULTS: 15 depression rating scales were identified. Diagnostic instruments and rating scales are described. CONCLUSIONS: Recent large depression trials have produced additional new data, and UK national organisations have made recommendations regarding the implementation of certain instruments.

How are workplace-based assessments viewed by UK psychiatry trainees?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of UK psychiatry trainees (residents) towards workplace-based assessments (WPBAs) as formative learning tools. WPBAs are a new form of UK mandatory assessment. METHODS: Two focus group interviews were held with psychiatry trainees at different stages of training in Cambridge, UK. RESULTS: Trainees identified a number of opportunities and barriers of WPBAs as formative assessment tools, and gave suggestions for their further development. A key opportunity was the compulsion for supervisors to observe trainees in clinical practice, and to provide individually tailored feedback. Barriers to learning were ideological, such as the emphasis on grades rather than formative feedback; and practical, such as the time taken for assessments. Suggestions for development of WPBAs included redesigning the forms to incorporate more formative feedback, and improving training in WPBAs. CONCLUSION: The perceptions of psychiatry trainees towards WPBAs are mixed and would benefit from further exploration.

Mental health workshops delivered by medical students in Cambridge secondary schools: an evaluation of learning.

AIMS: For a group of medical students to design and deliver a mental health workshop in Cambridge secondary schools. Subsequently, to evaluate any improvements in pupils' knowledge of mental health issues, including knowledge of common mental illnesses, stigma and where to access help with mental health problems. METHOD: A group of three medical students undertook a five week Student Selected Component to develop a mental health workshop in Spring 2013. The workshop was designed to include interactive components, such as role play, models and video. It was delivered to eight classes of 12-13 year old pupils across two local secondary schools, a total of 230 students. Questionnaires were completed before and after each workshop to test knowledge acquisition of mental health issues, stigma and where pupils could get help with mental health problems. Comparisons between data from the pre- and post-workshop questionnaires were made to assess learning. RESULTS: The responses from the questionnaires showed a global improvement in knowledge of mental health. This is highlighted by the increase in awareness of the prevalence of mental health problems amongst young people from 47.0% before the workshops to 97.8% after the workshops. The ability to identify symptoms of anxiety rose from 21.7% to 44.8% and the ability to identify depression rose from 29.0% to 53.5% respectively. Whilst only 15.2% pupils disagreed with a stigmatising statement about mental illness before the workshops, 61.3% pupils disagreed afterwards. The students were also better informed about how to access help and identified areas that they found useful to learn about. CONCLUSION: Comparison of the pre- and post-workshop questionnaires indicate that medical student-led workshops are an effective method for improving knowledge of mental health topics amongst 12-13 year old school pupils, as well as encouraging positive attitudes towards mental health. The project highlights a demand for mental health education in schools and brings to light topics that could be covered in future sessions or similar projects.

Trainee experiences of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) training in Europe: 2010-2011 survey of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) CAP working group.

The objective of this study was to investigate trainee experiences of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) training across Europe in the following domains: (A) structure and organisation of training; (B) training quality and content; and (C) working conditions and recruitment. CAP trainee representatives were contacted via email across 34 countries in Europe using the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) email list to complete a survey on CAP training in 2010-2011. The European Union of Medical Specialties CAP group and trainees at the 2011 EFPT forum validated the survey data. Full surveys were submitted by 28 of the 34 countries who have national CAP training schemes. These 28 countries are subject to the following further analysis. 7/28 countries (25 %) have a core common trunk in general psychiatry before trainees specialise in CAP. All countries bar one have national training standards for CAP. Training standards are implemented in practice to a variable extent. There is a CAP-specific theoretical education programme and national CAP conference in 25/28 countries (89 %). Supervision occurs at least weekly in 19/28 countries (68 %); emergency duty supervision is available in 18/28 (64 %) countries; educational supervision is available in 13/28 countries (46 %). Psychotherapy training is obligatory in 19/28 countries (68 %). Research training is obligatory in 8/28 countries (29 %). Sub-specialty experience is extremely variable. Recruitment into CAP is a problem in 19/28 countries (68 %). Training experiences in CAP varies widely across European countries.

Psychiatry training in Europe: views from the trenches.

BACKGROUND: In the majority of European countries, postgraduate psychiatry training schemes are developed and evaluated by national bodies in accordance with national legislation. In order to harmonise training in psychiatry across Europe, the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) issued a number of recommendations for effective implementation of training programs in psychiatry. AIMS: To describe the structure and quality assurance mechanisms of postgraduate psychiatric training in Europe. METHOD: The European Federation of Psychiatry Trainees (EFPT) conducted a survey, which was completed by the representatives of 29 member national psychiatric associations. RESULTS: In most countries (N = 19), the duration of the training programme is 5 years or more. Twenty-six countries have adapted a basic training programme that includes the 'common trunk' (according to UEMS definition) or a modified version of it. In 25 countries, trainees are evaluated several times during their training with a final exam at the end. In 25 countries, official quality assurance mechanisms exist. However, results demonstrate great variations in their implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, psychiatric training programmes and assessment methods are largely compatible with one another across Europe. Quality assurance mechanisms, however, vary significantly. These should receive adequate attention by national and international educational policy makers.

OpenMinds: creating a mental health workshop for teenagers to tackle stigma and raise awareness.

As a group of four clinical medical students from Cambridge University, we undertook a Student Selected Module (SSC- "OpenMinds") whereby we designed and delivered a workshop about mental health to year 9 pupils. The aim of our SSC was to produce an interactive, informative lesson which addressed the complex issues of stigma and discrimination against those suffering from a mental illness as well as teaching the pupils how to recognise mental health problems and provide them with guidance on how to seek help. We split a fifty minute session into the following sections: tackling stigma; how common mental illness is; celebrity examples; real life examples; role play; and small group work. To engage the pupils we used a combination of teaching modalities targeting all learning. We delivered the workshop to four separate classes and received feedback from the pupils after each. We used this feedback to adapt and improve our presentation and assess the efficacy. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with the striking results of 101/109 pupils saying that they would recommend the workshop to a friend and 68/109 pupils saying they enjoyed all aspects. Our SSC built upon work by a contingent of trainee Psychiatrists who undertook a similar project of mental health education for teenagers, called "Heads above the rest", in Northern Ireland with great success. By continuing their work we were able to demonstrate that medical students can successfully complete the same project under the guidance of a Psychiatrist, thus increasing the sustainability of the project by reducing the time burden on the Psychiatrists. Participating in the project was also valuable to our own personal development of teaching skills.