Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is commonly referred to as child psychiatry or CAP, for brevity.
All child psychiatrists must complete an adult psychiatry residency before continuing on to another two years of training to see minors. Child psychiatrists typically see children starting at 4 years old.
The additional years of training allow for the psychiatrist to become familiar with both typical child development as well as mental illnesses that are mostly likely to present during childhood. Among these conditions are:
Sequelae of neurotoxicity in utero or in early childhood
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Childhood trauma
Eating disorders
Impulse control disorders
Personality disorders
First presentation of mood disorders
First presentation of psychoses
Child psychiatrists specifically train to provide psychotherapy and psychotropic modalities that are safe and effective for children as their bodies continue to develop and change rapidly throughout childhood.
In most US healthcare systems, a child transitions to an adult psychiatrist after their 18th birthday. However, exceptions can be made so long as the provider is comfortable with seeing adults and, if needed, the patient's insurance will continue to cover visits to a child psychiatrist.
Child and adolescent psychiatry subspecialty certification is provided via the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).
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