Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - CAMHS

CAMHS at Maudsley Health

In 2015, Maudsley Health, centered in Abu Dhabi, started providing mental health and wellbeing services for the child and adolescent population in the United Arab Emirates. The service aims to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people with mental health problems and their families.

The service is family centred and sensitive to the developmental needs of children and adolescents. It is delivered in a compassionate way and respectful of all cultural backgrounds. Interventions are based on the best internationally agreed evidence based practice and outcomes are monitored to ensure that treatment is effective and progress is maintained.

To deliver the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), there is an experienced team based in Abu Dhabi, supplemented by regular visits from senior clinicians from the Maudsley Hospital in London, many of whom run national and specialist services and are internationally renowned.

High quality and comprehensive assessments are undertaken to understand a young person’s needs and be in the best position to advise on the evidence based interventions available.

We aim to ensure:



  • More young people will have good mental health


  • More young people with mental health problems will recover


  • More young people with mental health problems will have good physical health


  • More young people will have a positive experience of care and support from our service


  • More young people experience less stigma and discrimination in their social life

The comprehensive assessment process involves gathering information about the young person’s needs by conducting interviews with the young person, his / her parents and any relevant person involved with the child or young person. We may also go to school and other settings to undertake observations or request reports and multi-source feedback from other professional involved with the young person. We use a range of gold standard assessment (e.g. ADOS, ADI, K-SADS), intervention approaches (CBT, ITP) and outcome measures (CGAS, SDQ). Outcome measures can be used to evaluate progress. They are typically used to measure the effects of treatment interventions.

Services available include:

  • Comprehensive Assessment of need
  • Interventions
  • Bespoke School Programs
  • Consultation & Supervision
  • Training and Education

We provide comprehensive child and adolescent mental health support services and have particular expertise in the assessment and management of

Neurodevelopmental disorders such as:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Attention Deficit Disorders, Tic Disorder
  • Learning difficulties and disabilities

Emotional Disorders in Children and Adolescents including:

  • Mood disorders: Depression, Mania and Bipolar Affective Disorders
  • Anxiety and Stress Related Disorders: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Phobias, Generalized Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Reaction to Severe stress and Attachment Disorders.
  • Behavioral Disorders, conduct disorders
  • Eating Disorders
  • Assessment and management of acute psychiatric presentation and crisis intervention
  • Use of psychological and neuro psychological assessment measures including rating scales and outcome measures
  • Comprehensive assessment of patterns and level of learning for children with educational and academic difficulties.
  • Medical assessment and genetic screening and advice on genetic counselling.
  • Pediatric liaison and young people with chronic physical health problems
  • Orphans and children who have endured early childhood trauma
  • Children and young people in the criminal justice system

Interventions

Focusing on interventions that already have a track record of success is our approach and we put outcomes-focused, evidence-based interventions at the heart of our clinical practice.

List of therapeutic interventions provided by the service:



  • The use of Psychopharmacology was indicated by best evidence based practice.


  • Behavioral Therapy


  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)


  • BRIEF solution focused Therapy


  • Mindfulness Groups


  • CBT group intervention for children and adolescents with a variety of emotional difficulties e.g. Anxiety, depression


  • Bespoke CBT group intervention for children and adolescents with ASD, ADHD and Tourette’s


  • Family based work


  • Parenting groups: Incredible Years parenting groups


  • Post Diagnosis information support groups for families e.g. ADHD parenting groups and Post ASD diagnosis support group.


  • Provision of Comprehensive reports outlining formulation of strengths, needs and treatment plans


  • Integrated clinical care pathways


  • Collaborative inter-agency working with pediatricians, dieticians, schools, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and clinicians from allied health professions e.g. Speech and language therapist and Occupational therapist.
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Transition to adult services

The team will work collaboratively with the young people coming up to the age of 18 to support the transition to adult mental health colleagues, as well as ensuring a smooth transition to adult services if mental health services are still needed at that stages

Inpatient Services

The ethos of the service is to care for children and young people in the community. If the young person is acutely unwell and requires an inpatient admission to ensure his/her safety or those around him, the service can facilitate an admission to local services or in the UK if necessary.