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Internships in Clinical Psychology

JAN. – JUN. / JUL. – DEC.

A Comprehensive “Experiential Training” in

Child & Adolescent Mental Health

Syllabus

VIMHANS INTRODUCTION:

Aim: The aim is to provide specialized clinical training to post masters clinical
psychology students who are interested in developing their focus on: - Child and
Adolescent mental health issues. The aim is to equip students with the ability to
successfully diagnose and manage the wide variety of mental health issues specific to
children and adolescents.

Objectives:
The trainee-ship is designed so as to provide theoretical inputs and hands-on clinical
experience in certain specific areas of clinical psychology.

The objective is to help prepare the trainees for:

 Better job opportunities
 Enhance Clinical skills and their competencies in Child &Adolescent Mental
Health Services
 For future studies

Specifically the Focus is to Help Trainees:

 To improve skills to interview clients in case history taking and mental status
examination.
 A clear understanding of nosology and symptomatology and etiology of
various disorders according to classification system of DSM-IV and ICD-10.
 Use of relevant psycho-diagnostic tools for assessment and diagnosis for
various clinical conditions in children and adolescent.
 Practical experience to various interventions and therapeutic strategies in
clinical settings.
 Orientation to the few of the current issues specific to child and adolescent
mental health.
 CONTENT

THE PRACTICAL WORK IS DIVIDE INTO TWO 6 MONTHS TRAINING MODULES

MODE OF TEACHING

 Total of 25 weeks of training (out of 26 weeks in 6 months)

o First one week only theoretical knowledge
o Next 20 weeks combination of theory classes and practical training
o Last 4 weeks only practical hands-on training.
 First one week there will be 10 classes (no practical training) Mon to Friday;
o Two classes per day: 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30 pm. (25 hrs; 5
hrs a day for 5days)
 Week 2 to week 21 structured class every Friday;
o 10am to 12.30pm or 2pm to 4.30 pm (50 hrs; 2.5 hrs a day for 20
weeks)
 Week 2 to week 21, Mon to Thurs and Sat 6 hrs a day practical training:
o 10am to 4 pm (with 1hr. lunch break) equals to 6hrs a day hands-on
practical training. (600 hrs; 30 hrs a week for 20 weeks).
 Week 22 to week 25, Mon to Sat 6 hrs a day practical training:
o 10am to 4 pm (with 1hr. lunch break) equals to 6hrs a day hands-on
practical training. (144hrs; 36hrs a week for 4 weeks).
o
 OPD/IPD and Neuro-Rehab postings for hands-on clinical training by
rotation under the supervision of various consultants associated with the
department of child and adolescent services.
 Other than the structured theory classes and practical clinical training the
students are required to do intensive and regular self-study and be up to date
with the assignments.
 Students will be required to submit 5 case studies; appear for one internal
assessment.
 Certificate will be issued only on completion of the above mentioned
requirements of the curriculum.

SIMILAR PATTERN OF TRAINING WILL BE CARRIED ON FOR BOTH

BASIC AND THE ADVANCE COURSE
 DETAILED SYLLABUS

BASIC TRAINING:

(FIRST 6 MONTHS)

1. Introduction to child and adolescent psychology/psychiatry

 Case history taking and mental status examination
 Developmental milestones in children
 Adolescent developmental issues
 Introduction to child neuro-psychology

2. Practical training (with reference to case study) in differential diagnosis

according to DSM-IV/ICD-10 criteria in the following disorders:
A. Developmental Disorders
 PDD
 ADHD
 LD
 MR

B. Other Childhood Psychiatric Disorders

 Anxiety Spectrum Disorders
 Separation Anxiety
 OCD
 Phobias
 GAD
 PTSD
 ODD & CD
 Somatoform Disorders
 Childhood depression
 Childhood Schizophrenia

3. Extensive hands on training in administration, scoring, interpretation and

report writing skills in the following psycho-diagnostic tools.

A. IQ Assessment:
 MISIC
 WAPIS
 WISC-IV

B. Behavioural/Functional Assessment
 VABS
C. Other Psycho Diagnostic Tools:
 NIMHANS SLD Battery
 CARS-II
 BVRT
 BerryVMI
 WIAT II
 NIMHANSBattery of Neuropsychological Assessment for Children
 (ADVANCE TRAINING) *

(NEXT 6 MONTHS)

4. Orientation to the following Therapeutic Interventions:

A. Theoretical Frame Work of
 Systems Approach to Family Intervention and Circumplex Model
 Double ABCX Model of McCubbin& Patterson
 Attachment Theory

B. Various Therapeutic Approaches

 Play Therapy
 Family Therapy
 BT/CBT
 Counselling Techniques
 Crisis Intervention
 Parenting Skills Training
 Use of Story Telling/Art Therapy
 Orientation of Pharmacotherapy/drug Intervention

5. Orientation to Current Issues in Child& Adolescent Mental Health

 Abuse With Special Emphasis on Child Sexual Abuse
 Drug & Alcohol Use/Abuse
 Newer Addiction- e.g. Internet, Mobile Phones Etc.
 Exam Stress
 Adolescent Sexuality & Relationship Issues
 Life-Skills Approaches & Training for Adolescents
 Study skills Habits
 Others

 Scholarships may be awarded to deserving candidates at discretion

of faculty.