The nucleus for the Association was conceived at the 1955 International Congress of Child Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines when one of its delegates, Emanuel Miller, was so impressed with the multi-disciplinary network, that he inspired to replicate this in Britain also. The resulting Association for Child Psychology and Psychiatry adopted wider aims, including the furtherance of the fundamental study of the child and the family. In Emanuel Miller's own words: the coming into being of the Association of Child Psychology and Psychatiry and their allied disciplines was prompted by the desire of many to study the various ways in which the life of hte child was influenced, indeed to make clear the many dimensions or co-ordinates by which the growing human orgnaism was caught or could be defined. That study has been going on within the Association for almost 50 years!
The first formal meeting of the ACPP (as it became known) was in 1956, when Emanuel Miller became its first Chairman. He also became the first Editor of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, which was set up to bring together original papers concerned with the child, from such diverse disciplines as pscyhiatry, psychology, paediatrics, psychoanalysis, social case-work and sociology. The first issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and allied disciplines (as it was then known) appeared in 1960 and has continued until the present day (though dropping 'and allied disciplines' in 2004), opening up its pages to an international readership and to international contributions. Although the first few issues did not cover the whole field of interest - the accent was more psychiatric and the contributions mostly British - it has now become widely known and justifies its original aims as a scientific journal conveying all aspects of child study. It is highly rated on the ISI index with an impact factor of 2.743 and an enviable reputation for high standards, independence and evidence-based practice.
Since its inception, the Association grew rapidly, establishing branches, publishing leading articles and organising meetings throughout the British Isles until finally, in 1977, in response to branches' request for more communication between the national council and local committees (at that time there were only 8 branches, now there are 14!), a newsletter, simply called News was set up. As the Association's membership expanded, so too did News until, in January 1984, News became Newsletter (due to an over-enthusiastic printer, the new cover appeared one issue too soon!) and in 1988 its content became more formalized to also cover papers, journal monitors, personal profiles and thoughts from abroad. In 1993 it changed its image once more and became ACPP Review & Newsletter, in 1996 it became Child Psychology and Psychiatry Review and finally in 2002 it became, as we now recognise it today, Child and Adolescent Mental Health. With one more cover change to come in September 2005, this journal, through its various evolutions to reflect the varying needs of its readership, has finally reached maturity and is set to welcome an ISI rating.
Branches original request for communication between the national and local bodies was not forgotten, and this very important link continues with the quarterly production of The Bridge, which is still very much a newsletter in the old tradition!
