The specialist in Child Neuropsychiatry must have gained theoretical, scientific and professional knowledge in the field of functional and instrumental semeiotics, clinical methodology, pharmacological, psychotherapeutic and rehabilitative treatments in order to be able to carry out the global care of subjects suffering from neuro-psychiatric diseases of the developmental age (0-18 years); must know the psychosocial problems of chronic diseases of the developmental age; must have acquired knowledge of the principles of protection and promotion of mental health and prevention of neuro-psychic diseases and the fight against stigma in developmental age; must have achieved in-depth knowledge of the relationships between internal or surgical pathologies and mental disorders and of the problems related to consultation and liaison psychiatry in developmental age.

General educational objectives: knowledge of embryology, biochemistry, histology, anatomy and physiology of the central and peripheral nervous system and muscle and their physiological changes during development; the fundamentals of statistical analysis; the epidemiology and pathogenesis of neuro-psychiatric diseases of the developmental age; the mechanisms of genetic transmission of diseases of neuro-psychiatric interest of the developmental age; psychophysiology and the mechanisms of psychological evolution; the biochemical, physiological and neuroradiological correlates of neuro-psychiatric syndromes of the developmental age; the biological bases of the action of neuro and psychotropic drugs and the medico-legal and ethical aspects related to their use in developmental age;

General training objectives: knowledge of the historical and conceptual dimensions of neuro-psychiatric pathologies of the developmental age;

Educational objectives of the type of school: in-depth knowledge of normal and pathological neuropsychic development and the biological, family and social variables that can affect it; acquisition of knowledge and skills for the etiopathogenetic and diagnostic-nosographic framework of neuro-psychiatric disorders of the developmental age and of the methodological bases for the related preventive and clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions (pharmacological, psycho-therapeutic, rehabilitative); knowledge of models for the prevention of neuro-psychiatric disorders in developmental age; knowledge of all the neuro-psychiatric pathologies of children and adolescents, in their developmental pathomorphosis, for age groups from 0 to 18 years; acquisition of theoretical and technical knowledge for the neuropsychological assessment of disorders of superior cortical functions and learning in children and adolescents and for the implementation of preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions, also for the social integration of disabled minors; acquisition of skills for neurological, neuropsychological and psychiatric rehabilitation in developmental age with formulation and monitoring of rehabilitation programs; general theoretical knowledge and technical skills for psychotherapeutic treatments in developmental age; acquisition of the technical and methodological skills essential to face and treat situations of pre-adolescent and adolescent crisis and of consultation and liaison psychiatry in developmental age; knowledge of the doctor-patient-parents relationship and issues concerning informed consent in developmental age; acquisition of skills in social psychiatry of the developmental age with knowledge of the social correlates of mental illnesses and the related rehabilitation and resocializing methods in the developmental age; knowledge of the neurophysiological, neuropsychological and neuroimaging pictures of neuro-psychiatric pathologies of childhood and adolescence; acquisition of skills for the global care (subject, family, school) of the patient with neuro-psychiatric pathology in developmental age; acquisition of methodological skills for clinical and epidemiological research in developmental neuropsychiatry, with particular regard to preventive and social child neuropsychiatry.

Integrated training objectives (i.e. common core):

The resident must have acquired satisfactory theoretical knowledge and professional competence in the recognition and treatment, even in emergency-urgency conditions, of the most common pathologies in the field of internal medicine and developmental age.

For all types of the class, given the specific cultural interconnection existing between the types, the ECTS of the common trunk of the related specialties must include:

• theoretical knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the central and peripheral nervous system;
• general theoretical knowledge of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric pathologies in the various phases of the life cycle;
• theoretical knowledge and basic practical experience of methods for diagnosis, including differential diagnosis (clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, electrophysiological techniques, chemical-biological examinations and psychometric evaluations) of pathologies of neurological and psychiatric interest throughout the life cycle;
• theoretical knowledge and clinical-practical experience (including urgent/emergency situations) relating to the main pathologies of neurological and psychiatric interest in the various stages of the life cycle, including neurological and psychiatric complications of internal diseases;
• theoretical knowledge and basic clinical-practical experience relating to the main techniques for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of neurological and psychiatric diseases throughout the life cycle.

The following are compulsory professionalizing activities for the achievement of the educational purposes of the type:

• have followed at least 250 subjects in the different age groups (0-18 years) with neuropsychiatric pathologies, discussing the diagnostic-therapeutic path with the staff of the clinical structure, with progressive assumption of decision-making autonomy;
• have administered and interpreted at least 100 neurocognitive/neuromotor assessments in different age groups;
• have discussed directly with expert staff at least 100 neuroimaging examinations of the main neuro-psychiatric pathologies of childhood and adolescence;
• have carried out and/or discussed with expert personnel at least 250 neurophysiological examinations (EEG, EMG, evoked potentials) relating to the main neuro-psychiatric pathologies of the developmental age, of which at least 1/3 are directly responsible, with progressive assumption of professional autonomy;
• have performed at least 50 neurological examinations of newborns, premature babies and infants, and at least 50 psychomotor observations of subjects aged 0 to 3 years.
• have carried out at least 150 interviews with parents, on at least 50 subjects;
• have participated in the formulation of at least 50 functional diagnoses of children with school difficulties of neurological, neuropsychological or psychopathological origin;
• have taken charge of at least 3 subjects in psychotherapy with supervision;
• have followed at least 50 subjects of different age groups with neuro-psychomotor, cognitive and psychiatric rehabilitation programs;
• have participated in the conduct, according to the rules of good clinical practice, of at least 3 controlled clinical trials, preferably longitudinal.

The student will be able to compete for the diploma after completing the professionalizing activities.

As part of the training course, the student will have to learn the scientific bases of the type of School in order to achieve full maturity and professional competence that includes an adequate ability to interpret scientific innovations and critical knowledge that allows him to consciously manage both assistance and his own updating; In this context, participation in meetings, congresses and the production of scientific publications and periods of attendance in qualified Italian and foreign institutions useful for his/her training may be envisaged.