Diploma in addiction behaviour

The first international full-time one-year course in Addiction Behaviour was offered by the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London in October 1986. It has a strong multidisciplinary focus and integrates teaching on basic sciences, clinical aspects, service organisation and development of national policy. Clinical teaching takes place in specialised treatment facilities, and visits are arranged to a wide range of community organisations. Personal tutorials, seminars closely linked to clinical experience and research workshops complement the clinical basis of the course. Although there is a final written, oral and clinical examination, weight is given to continuous assessment. A general consensus emerged as to the value of the course contents, despite widely differing cultural, educational and professional backgrounds of the six students. Four of the six students who enrolled were awarded a Diploma, one of whom received a distinction for work of exceptional calibre.