Dr Athina Zakynthinaki
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist MD, MBBS, CCT, Associate Spec RCPsych, GMC 6161141

I am a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with 19 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and their families within NHS CAMHS services across the UK. I am on the specialist GMC register and currently work at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust’s Neurodevelopmental Service (Autism and ADHD team), where I focus on the assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I have significant experience working in various NHS neurodevelopmental services, where I contributed to the development and refinement of diagnostic pathways for ASD and ADHD. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to improving clinical service delivery, particularly in neurodevelopmental services. I have worked alongside teams to enhance assessment processes and ensure that the highest standards of care are maintained. I have also collaborated with colleagues to improve patient flow through diagnostic pathways and worked on projects that aim to reduce waiting times and increase the accessibility of services for children and families.

In my clinical role, I conduct in-depth neurodevelopmental assessments for children and adolescents with a range of conditions, including ASD, ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome, and other neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders. I am skilled in integrating evidence-based tools such as ADI-R, 3Di, ADOS, Young DIVA, and QbTest to form personalized treatment and diagnostic plans. I provide a holistic approach to care, ensuring that each assessment takes into account the young person's developmental, psychological, and social context, which allows for tailored interventions that promote long-term well-being.

I have extensive experience in prescribing, managing, and monitoring medications for young people with a variety of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions.


I am also committed to teaching and training, designing and delivering interactive sessions on neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular interest in the female profile of autism and ADHD. 


My professional development includes specialized training in Systemic Family Therapy, psychoanalytic psychotherapy for infants, and ADHD management at the Child-Adolescent Psychiatric Department of the Medical School of Athens. I have also obtained a Diploma in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy to support young people with emotional dysregulation and self-harm behaviors. I hold a diploma in EMDR to address trauma, phobias and PTSD. I am trained and have conducted over 2000 ADI-R interviews, providing me with deep expertise in the assessment of autism spectrum conditions. 


Research and Publications

1.     2nd National Congress Of Atherosclerosis, September 2006 “Cholesterol Blood Levels And Mortality After Vascular Brain Stroke” D. Panoutsopoulou, R. Psaras, A. Zakynthinaki-Kyriakou, A. Karakosta, X. Bairaktaris, A. Terentiou, I. Papanastasiou NEUROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF 417 N.I.M.T.S. GENERAL HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

2.     2nd National Congress Of Atherosclerosis, September 2006 “Hematocrit And Mortality After Vascular Brain Stroke”, A. Zakynthinaki-Kyriakou, R. Psaras, D. Panoutsopoulou, A. Karakosta, X. Bairaktaris, A. Terentiou, I. Papanastasiou     NEUROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF 417 N.I.M.T.S. GENERAL HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

3.     AEPEA Congress 2009 “Violence In The Family, Violence In The Society: Searching The Answers Of The “Child Psychiatry’s Institutions” And The “Institutional Psychotherapy In Greece”.  Georgiadis D., Georgitsis P, Apostolopoulou K., Zakynthinaki A., Roussinos S., Psarrakou M. Child’s Medical and Pedagogic Centre, 11th Mental Health Division Of C&A Of Attica, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

4.     6th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF C&A PSYCHIATRY 2009 “NEW FAMILY STRUCTURES IN HELLENIC SOCIETY SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES’ COMMON REQUESTS IN THE MEDICAL & PEDAGOGIC CENTRE.” Zakynthinaki A., Apostolopoulou K., I. Choustoulakis, G. Papadantonakis, P. Georgitsis, D. Georgiadis Child’s Medical and Pedagogic Centre, 11th Mental Health Division Of C&A Of Attica, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

5.     6th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF C&A PSYCHIATRY 2009 “Public Prosecutor's Mandate for Psychiatric Evaluation at the Child's Medical and Pedagogic Centre - Child Victim of Emotional Abuse / Parental Conflict-Divorce - The Role of the C&A Psychiatrist.”  Zakynthinaki A.,  Apostolopoulou K, I. Choystoylakis, M. Psarrakou, P. Georgitsis, D. Georgiadis Child’s Medical and Pedagogic Centre, 11th Mental Health Division Of C&A Of Attica, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

6.     6th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF C&A PSYCHIATRY 2009 “THE OPERATION OF THE FAMILY PRACTICE OF THE MEDICAL AND PEDAGOGIC CENTRE OF N. SMYRNI: REVIEW 1994-2009” C. Papadantonakis, I. Choustoulakis, A. Zakynthinaki, K. Apostolopoulou, P. Georgitsis, D. Georgiadis Family Practice, Medical and Pedagogic Centre of N. Smyrni, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

7.     6th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF C&A PSYCHIATRY 2009 “PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S ORDERS AT THE MEDICAL AND PEDAGOGIC CENTRE OF N. SMYRNI” Euthymia Katsikandaraki, M. Psarrakou, A. Zakynthinaki, J. Choustoulakis, K. Apostolopoulou, D. Georgiadis Medical and Pedagogic Centre Of N. Smyrni, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

8.     6th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF C&A PSYCHIATRY 2009 “THE CONTRIBUTION OF PRESCOLAR EDUCATION IN IDENTIFYING MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN CHILDHOOD” I. Choystoylakis, A. Zakynthinaki, P. Korobesi, K. Apostolopoulou, G Karagiannopoulou, C. Georgitsis, D. Georgiadis   Medical and Pedagogic Centre of N. Smyrni, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

9.     6th NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF C&A PSYCHIATRY 2009 BECAN NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Child Abuse: Seeking Scientific Understanding, Confronting Harsh Reality, Rediscovering Symbolism. May 2011, Proceedings of the Athens Roundtable Discussion: "The Admission of Physically and Sexually Abused, as well as Delinquent Children and Adolescents in the Emergencies Unit of the C&A Psychiatric Hospital of Athens from 2009 to 2011. Identifying Instances of Potential Institutional Abuse in Inpatient Units."

10.  BECAN NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Child Abuse: Pursuing Scientific Knowledge, Confronting the Raw Realities, Reviving Symbolism. May 2011, ATHENS. The Narrative of an Adolescent Labelled as "Delinquent" and His Journey through Family, Hospital, and Outpatient Unit. Insights from a Senior Trainee's Perspective. A. ZAKYNTHINAKI, Emergencies Department, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

11.  ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: “Child Victimization and Greek Community” Public prosecutor’s orders and expertise on child abuse, in the context of the Medical and Pedagogic Centre” Georgitsis, G. Pylarinos, A.Zakynthinaki    Medical and Pedagogic Centre of N. Smyrni, C&A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ATHENS

At Child Psychiatry Consultancy, our adherence to the guidelines established by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) ensures that all assessments are conducted in accordance with the highest practices and standards. These guidelines serve as a framework for our evaluations, allowing us to provide reliable and effective services to our clients.

Consultant Psychiatrists possess specialized training, equipping them to practice independently without requiring oversight from more senior medical professionals. Their qualifications are formally recognized on the specialist register maintained by the General Medical Council (GMC), providing a means for verification of their expertise and competence. Any such doctor can be looked up on that register via https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/the-medical-register.