Psych Vivas · Child and adolescent psychiatry — developmental assessment
Developmental assessment in CAP — structured clinical viva
Fellowship viva on developmental assessment: surveillance/screening/testing, adaptive function for ID, formulation, early intervention loop.
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This is a delayed multi-domain developmental presentation after prolonged wait-and-see — classic viva on process excellence rather than a single label.[1]
Assessment structure. Developmental history; domain milestones; observation; adaptive interview (conceptual/social/practical); multi-informant (parents/teachers); hearing/vision; select screens; formal cognitive and adaptive psychometrics as indicated; ASD multi-source evaluation if social-communication concerns.[1][3][5]
Key teaching lines. Surveillance ≠ screening ≠ diagnostic testing. Screens (for example historical M-CHAT-R/F pathway) flag risk; they do not diagnose. ID needs intellectual and adaptive deficits.[2][3]
Formulation. Integrate prematurity/medical risk if present, language/cognitive profile, school ecology, family strengths, perpetuating system delay, protective factors → 4P/biopsychosocial product that drives plan.[4]
Plan. Close referral loops to early intervention and education supports; treat psychiatric comorbidity later on its merits with developmental adaptations; no medication to manufacture milestones.[5][6]
References6ShowHide
- [1]Lipkin PH, Macias MM Promoting Optimal Development: Identifying Infants and Young Children With Developmental Disorders Through Developmental Surveillance and Screening Pediatrics, 2020.PMID 31843861
- [2]Tassé MJ, Luckasson R, Schalock RL The Relation Between Intellectual Functioning and Adaptive Behavior in the Diagnosis of Intellectual Disability Intellect Dev Disabil, 2016.PMID 27893317
- [3]Robins DL, Casagrande K, Barton M, et al. Validation of the modified checklist for Autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F) Pediatrics, 2014.PMID 24366990
- [4]Winters NC, Hanson G, Stoyanova V The case formulation in child and adolescent psychiatry Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am, 2007.PMID 17141121
- [5]Siegel M, McGuire K, Veenstra-VanderWeele J, et al. Practice Parameter for the Assessment and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents With Intellectual Disability J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 2020.PMID 33928910
- [6]King TM, Tandon SD, Macias MM, et al. Implementing developmental screening and referrals: lessons learned from a national project Pediatrics, 2010.PMID 20100754