Professor Maria E Garralda Hualde

PROFESSOR M ELENA GARRALDA 

Research  

Psychiatric and physical health are closely linked in children. Those with psychiatric problems often experience physical symptoms and present these, in preference to their psychological symptoms, to paediatricians and general practitioners. Children with chronic paediatric disorders have an increased risk for psychiatric problems,  which can in turn adversely affect their adjustment to physical illness.  Our research aims to document the nature, underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of the interface between psychiatric and physical health problems in children and young people.

Our work involves psychiatric studies of  children and young people i) attending paediatric and general practice clinics;  ii) with psychosomatic problems;  iii) with chronic and acute life-threatening illness. It seeks to develop, evaluate and disseminate psychiatric interventions appropriate for children presenting with physical symptoms, and to map health service provision.

Teaching 

As Head of the Academic Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry I have a special interest in teaching child and adolescent psychiatric to undergraduates and in the training of post-graduates.

Measures of self-esteem

Royal College of Psychiatrists: Member of the Academic Faculty Board

London Deanery: Recent Chair of the Specialist Higher Training Committee in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Royal Society of Medicine: Chair of the Psychiatry Section Board (2002-2003) and current member of the Paediatric Section Board

International Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP): Book Series Editor

British Journal of Psychiatry: member of the Editorial Board

Keynote Speaker at national and international conferences