Dialog Centre for Children and Families
Before your first appointment with a child and adolescent psychiatrist
Your first appointment with a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Key information for parents
to help you prepare for the appointment.
What to prepare
What to bring to your first appointment
It’s a good idea to bring all the child’s medical records with you to the first appointment. This helps the doctor understand the situation more quickly and make an accurate diagnosis. If there’s anything you don’t have, don’t worry – just bring whatever you do have.
Medical records
- Child’s
health record book - Current test results (laboratory tests, imaging, ECG)
- Hospital
discharge summaries - Medical reports on mental and physical
health - Documents from the Mental Health Clinic, if the family has
them
Psychological and educational records
- The content of the review and the test
results - Certificates confirming that psychotherapy
has been undertaken or is currently being undertaken
School documentation
- Comments from a teacher or school
counsellor - School
reports - Workbooks for core subjects or those that your child finds most difficult
How does it work?
Step-by-step diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis and determining a course of treatment is a process that usually involves several appointments. Below, we explain what you can expect.
The diagnosis is a multi-stage process
At least two diagnostic appointments are usually required to reach a definitive diagnosis, and sometimes more. A psychologist, educationalist, speech and language therapist and neurologist are also often involved in the process.
Personalised treatment programme
Based on the diagnosis, the doctor draws up a plan tailored to the child. This may include: psychotherapy, family therapy, medication, social skills training, workshops for families, and remedial and speech and language therapy sessions.
Pharmacotherapy is not the only method
The decision on whether to prescribe medication is made by the doctor on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the child’s health and functioning, the information gathered from the family, and the content of the available expert opinions.
The doctor coordinates the treatment
Once the assessment is complete, the child and adolescent psychiatrist continues to coordinate the course of treatment and adjust it as necessary.
Do you have any questions before your appointment?
Give us a call and our advisers will help you book an appointment and answer any questions you may have.
Open daily, 7.30 am to 10.00 pm