Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

The Department's research covers an extensive range of topics including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, affective disorders, substance misuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, and intellectual disability as well as parenting problems and deliberate self harm. Research projects use a range of investigational strategies and academic staff have expertise in epidemiology, behavioural and molecular genetics, neuroimaging, clinical trials and health services research methods. We offer supervision and education of PhD students from a variety of disciplines. There is a particular emphasis on integration across a range of different methods and increasing investigation of biological and cognitive markers of disorder and treatment response. Research studies make use of both general population and clinical samples, and the Department has excellent access to a range of clinical disorders through its close links with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Research receives substantial funding from external bodies such as the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, National Institute of Health as well as smaller charities and other arms of the government.

The Department hosts a one year MSc in Child & Adolescent Mental Health (with a part-time option open to UK based clinicians currently working within CAMHS). The course is mainly for international and UK-based psychiatrists, paediatricians and psychologists, with an emphasis on knowledge and skills relevant to countries with developing services. This course focuses on research and clinical diagnostic and therapeutic skills, and includes forensic and service-related issues.

The IoP shares the same site as the world famous Maudsley Hospital, which is part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) - one of the largest mental health providers in Europe. King’s is committed to translational research and is proud to be the only university in the country to host three National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and six MRC centres. At the IoP we partner with SLaM to host the only specialist BRC for Mental Health in the UK working towards better treatment, earlier diagnosis and individualised healthcare. Students also have access to the largest library in Europe dedicated to psychiatry and related disciplines.