Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in Development - A Personal Retrospective Account Across Five Decades

Abstract

This personal account covers first steps and the individual development of the author within the-then in Germany newly established-field of ,child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP)', across a five-decade period, both in national and international environments, in clinical, academic, and pharmaceutical industry settings. Early years in medical school, practical experience, and psychology studies, succeeded by theses and examinations, were all directed to successfully gain adequate knowledge/skills to become a well-trained CAP clinician. Specialist residencies followed, in CAP/psychosomatics, paediatrics and adult psychiatry. In parallel to broad clinical responsibilities, soon, first research activities, successful grant applications, and intensive collaborations with publicly funded research consortia were strongly stimulated, to start an academic career. Clinical research in CAP areas of, e.g., psychoendocrinology/intersexuality, psychophysiology, psychopharmacology, migrant psychiatry, coping and compliance in somatic disease were pursued, including a 2-year research assignment abroad (USA). Unexpectedly, back in Germany, the author joined clinical CNS research in an international pharmaceutical company for several years, finally focussing on studies in juveniles. Over the last decade of his professional life, he became endowed chair, professor and director of a research group for ‚paediatric psychopharmacology' in a university department, the first of its kind in Europe. Currently open questions and challenges in this field conclude the report.