EINAQ - a European educational initiative on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and associated problems

BACKGROUND: Continuing Medical Education (CME) plays an important role in quality management, especially as quality assurance, for the improvement of healthcare in child and adolescent psychiatry. This requires responsibility regarding quality standards of clinical practice throughout Europe as outlined by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). OBJECTIVE: Therefore, steps should be undertaken to improve specialists' medical care and harmonize it in Europe. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with its many co-existing developmental disorders/problems is the central healthcare problem in child and adolescent psychiatry with high impact on society. Therefore, it was chosen as the target. METHOD: A European Interdisciplinary Network for ADHD Quality Assurance (EINAQ) was founded, didactic material was developed and a faculty of experts from several European countries established to offer all over Europe harmonized courses on ADHD and associated problems. RESULTS: Pilot courses were given in Germany in 2003/2004 and were highly appreciated by the participants. Further courses in Germany and other European countries will take place in 2004. CONCLUSION: EINAQ seems to be on the right track to be part of CME and specialized networks for healthcare in ADHD to improve the provision for mental health problems in children and adolescents in Europe. Cooperative projects with official European bodies like the UEMS -- Section on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy and the European Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry could strengthen the impact of EINAQ.