[Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) in the "Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale" (HeiCuMed)--practice-oriented learning in the reformed course of studies]

Abstract

To improve medical studies, the Medical School of the University of Heidelberg introduced in 2001 a new modular, topic-oriented curriculum for approximately 260 students with a special focus on multi-disciplinarity, thus breaking the seal of traditional disciplines. The new curriculum (Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale--HeiCuMed) introduced new methods of teaching and in addition to the traditional examinations, developed new methods of testing clinical-practical, respectively communication skills, such as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Child and Adolescent Psychiatry gained greater importance within the new curriculum and courses are now mandatory. Particularly the new methods of teaching provide an opportunity to make studies in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry even more attractive to students and to strengthen the position of the discipline within the schools of medicine.