The British approach to child and adolescent psychiatry: a course for Russian postgraduates

A two week course in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was given in St. Petersburg as part of the partnership between the City's Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service and Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Leicester University Medical School. In such a short course, it was necessary to focus on areas of particular importance to Russian practice. Areas chosen were: assessment and interviewing skills, psychosomatic concepts, mental retardation, suicide and self harm, attachment, behaviour therapy and adolescent problems. The course also offered practical demonstrations with Russian families. The response was favourable but assessment of how much the course added to knowledge was difficult.