Our experts

Area of Expertise

• Mental health of Looked After and Adopted Children
• Bio-psycho-social formulations of children that have been exposed to maltreatment and neglect and/or have been separated from their birth parents.
• Limited Prosocial Emotions and Behavioural Disorders
• Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Neuropsychiatry and Developmental Disorders
• Attachment

Biography

Dr. Pinto studied Medicine and Surgery at the University of Zaragoza, in Spain, before moving to the UK to train as a psychiatrist. She became a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) in 2000 and completed a Masters (MSc) in Medical Sciences at the University of Nottingham in 2002.

After completing her specialist training, Dr. Pinto joined SLAM as a Consultant Psychiatrist at the end of 2005, initially working in Lambeth CAMHS within a dedicated service for Looked-After Children and in the Adolescent Team. In 2010, she moved to work in the National Adoption & Fostering Clinic and Conduct Problems Team at the Michael Rutter Centre.

 

Research Interests

Dr. Pinto’s research has included the areas of Perinatal Psychiatry -studying anxiety, panic and obsessional symptoms in women referred with Postnatal Depression- and Attachment, investigating the link between Disorganized Attachment and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This combined her academic interest in attachment and clinical interest in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Pinto has also been involved in projects that have been related to services improvement, and has written articles / book chapter to disseminate the importance of personalized formulations and evidence-based interventions adapted to looked after and adopted children.

 

Education and Training

PgDip in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies for Children and Adolescents (IOPNN), 2007.
CCST in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (St George’s Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Higher Training Scheme), 2004
M Med Sc in Clinical Psychiatry (University of Nottingham), 2002.
MRCPsych. (Royal College of Psychiatrists), 2000.
Licensed in Medicine and Surgery (University of Zaragoza), 1997

Publications

Pinto, C. (2019). Looked after and adopted children: applying the latest science to complex biopsychosocial formulations. Adoption & Fostering, Vol. 43(3), pp 294–309. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308575919856173

Woolgar, M., Pinto, C. and Tomaselli, O.  (20018). The Assessment of Children and Young People for Adoption Support. The evidence from 20 referrals to the National Adoption and Fostering Team at the Maudsley. CoramBAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy Briefing.

Woolgar, M. & Pinto, C. (20016). Neuroscience and CAMHS practice. In Campbell, S., Morley, D. and Catchpole, R. (Eds). Critical Issues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, pp 30-50. London: Palgrave. https://he.palgrave.com/page/detail/Critical-Issues-in-Child-and-Adolescent-Mental-Health/?K=9781137547460

Woolgar, M. & Pinto, C (2016). Tailoring support. Adoption Today, Feb16, pp 10-11.

Pinto, C. & Woolgar, M. (2016). Receiving an FASD diagnosis. Adoption Today, Feb16, pp 18.

Pinto, C., & Woolgar, M. (2015). Introduction: Looked After Children. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20, 4, pp. e1–e3. doi:10.1111/camh.12125

Pinto, C., & Woolgar, M. (2015). Editorial: Looked-after children – a perspective into a more resilient future. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20, 4, pp. 181. doi:10.1111/camh.12127

Pinto, C., & Woolgar, M. (2014). MCC_06_05 Children Adopted or in Care. https://www.minded.org.uk/course/view.php?id=226

Pinto, C., & Woolgar, M. (2014). CAM_03_02 Looked After Children. https://www.minded.org.uk/course/view.php?id=314

Pinto, C., & Woolgar, M. (2014). CAM_03_03 Adoption. https://www.minded.org.uk/course/view.php?id=313

Woolgar, M., & Pinto, C. (2012). Written evidence to the Select Committee on Adoption Legislation. House of Lords. http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/adoption-legislation-committee/publications/

Pinto, C. (2012). Conduct disorders. In: Baig, B. & Bernard, S. (eds). Child and adolescent psychiatry: a handbook for medical students.

Pinto, C (2011). Evidence-based psychological interventions with children and adolescents: Programs to improve parenting skills and the attachment relationship. AFIN Newsletter 27.

Pinto, C. (2010). ADHD & D: A prospective study of children born after stillbirth. In: Brisch K.H. (ed). Attachment & early disorders of development. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart. ISBN 978-3-608-94666-6.

Pinto, C. & Barrett, N (2010). “Use of psychotropics among looked after children: an audit in the Borough of Lambeth". London Journal of Primary Care, 3: 52-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3960690/

Pinto, C. (2010) Book review: “Body image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity in Youth” 2nd edition, edited by L. Smolak and J. K. Thompson. European Eating Disorders Review, 18, 3, p. 244. http://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4317167.aspx

Pinto, C. (2009). Medical Classics: The motorcycle diaries. British Medical Journal, 338:b1557.

Pinto, C. (2008). Medical Classics: La Regenta. British Medical Journal, 336:1253.

Pinto, C. (2008) Book review: Friends, Lovers and Groups, edited by R. Engels, M. Kerr, and H. Stattin. Sexual and Relationship Therapy.

Pinto, C (2008).     NHS at 60. BMJ news.

Pinto, C. (2007). Medical Classics: Don Quixote. British Medical Journal, 335:997.

Pinto, C. (2007). Precursors of Personality Disorders. In: H. Blasco-Fontecilla, E. Baca-Garciz and J. Saiz-Ruiz (Eds.), Personality Disorders and Suicide: Theory and Research, Nova Science Publishers, ISBN: 1-60021-753-2.

Pinto, C. (2006). The differences between Specialist Community Adolescent Mental Health Teams and general CAMHS: Training issues for Specialist Registrars. Psychiatric Bulletin, 30, 232-233. DOI: 10.1192/pb.30.6.232

Pinto, C., Turton, P., Hughes, P., White, S. and Gillberg, C. (2006) ADHD and disorganised attachment. A prospective study of children next born after stillbirth. Journal of Attention Disorders, 10, 1, 83-91. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054705286058

Pinto, C. (2005). Goya: The sleep of reason produces monsters. British Journal of Psychiatry, 189, A14.

Pinto, C. (2005). Frida Kahlo. British Medical Journal, 331, 297.

Pinto, C. (2003) Book review: Coping and Complaining-Attachment and the language of disease, by Simon R. Wilkinson. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 13, 4, 269-270.