[Education and training system in child and adolescent psychiatry with view to carry-over towards adulthood psychiatry].

AIM: The aim of our study was to develop and establish a training system in child and adolescent psychiatry in Japan, especially in light of the continuity and integration with general psychiatry.

METHODS

The Japanese authors surveyed the situation of training in child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP training) through the literature and conducted collaborative and consensus meetings with the authors in the UK, with its long history of training system development. A comparison was made between Japan and CAP training in the UK and other countries.

RESULTS

A recent survey of psychiatric education in Japan clarified the current situation and called attention to parts of the education and training system where development is required. A systematic curriculum has not been established. For the elimination of disparities of competencies and skills among multidisciplinary staff, the CAP training curriculum needs to be comprehensive and fundamental, as shown in the Competency-based Curriculum for Specialists developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

CONCLUSIONS

CAP training and general psychiatry must be integrated into a comprehensive curriculum in the postgraduate education and training system, with an adequate time and place for training and supervision.