Montreal Children's Hospital

Welcome to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, Department of Psychiatry.  This is a very exciting period for child psychiatry.  Links between genes, the brain, and behaviour are better understood creating a very exciting and challenging time in this field. Governments are allocating more resources to the mental health needs of this population and research has dramatically improved due to better research techniques and recognition that there is much to learn about the developing brain and environmental effects.

Students rotating in our department will be given the opportunity to participate actively in the clinical service of one or more teams, depending on their interests. Activities will include attending assessments of children and their families, participating in their follow-up, and attending interdisciplinary team meetings. Students will also be able to attend teaching seminars, grand rounds, research seminars, and journal clubs.

Please refer to the table below for more information about the various clinical teams that can accommodate medical students.  We hope your rotation with us will be an enlightening and positive experience.

IN-PATIENT & DAY HOSPITAL

Pediatric Psychiatry Care Program

The Pediatric Psychiatry Care Program consists of an inpatient unit (PPCU) for crisis stabilization and assessment of both children and adolescents, and day hospital programs, one for preadolescents and the other for adolescents (see Intensive Psychiatric Assessment Service).

Intensive Psychiatric Assessment Service (IPAS)

The Intensive Psychiatric Assessment Service provides an opportunity to complete the assessment and stabilization process begun during admission to the PPCU for patients who can be discharged home. This service is also able to provide rapid comprehensive outpatient evaluations for patients already seen in psychiatry and make recommendations for treatment.

CONSULTATION LIAISON

Consultation Liaison Team

Psychiatrists provide consultations to requesting physicians about hospitalized children and adolescents.  Patients may have co-morbid psychiatric and general medical illnesses.  This service also provides consultation to medical clinics following children with chronic and/or serious illnesses.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Mental Health Emergency Team

This team provides daytime emergency psychiatry assessment, crisis intervention and disposition planning for children and adolescents.  They also have a role in providing education for the Emergency Department staff.

MHET Liaison

The is a rapid-response team responsible for the follow-up crisis management of youth and families who were first assessed in the emergency room, and for assuring liaison with the community services for ongoing management and treatment.

OUT-PATIENT SERVICES

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Team

This is a multidisciplinary outpatient team that provides evaluation and treatment for children between the ages of 6 and 16 years with ADHD and complex co-morbidities not responding to routine treatment.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Program

This is a multidisciplinary outpatient team that provides evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention for children of all ages with suspected autism.  The program includes the Autism Clinic, Psychopharmacology Clinic, a Social Skills Group for adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome, and a parents group.

Behavioural Pediatrics Team

A multidisciplinary outpatient team that assesses and treats children who suffer from a range of behavioural and emotional difficulties often with associated medical problems. Patients are usually followed in medical clinics at the MCH.

General Out-patient Team

A multidisciplinary outpatient team that assesses and treats children and families.  This team provides services for youth with a range of behavioural and emotional difficulties.