Purpose

Explain what the AIM is, and how to use it.

What is it?

AMBIT AIM stands for AMBIT Adolescent Integrative Measure.

The questions in the AIM have been adapted by DickonBevington and Peter Fuggle from the Hampstead Child Adaptation Measure (H-CAMA), which was originally authored by PeterFonagy and MaryTarget.

The AIM is a multilevel/multidimensional assessment, taking in psychiatric symptoms, social ecology, relationship networks/qualities, and resiliencies. It is available for use in this TiddlyManual for AMBIT, and is part of what the AMBIT team recommends as a Multi-Domain Assessment.

It can be used independently of AMBIT (it is currently one of the measures in use for the large IMPACT study of adolescent depression.)

How to use it

The form where you can complete the AIM is at AIM Form.



When you are gathering the information required to complete the AIM, you will find the areas covered by the AIM all listed under: Topics covered by the AIM - a checklist .

Individual items are scored and each can be labelled as one of a small number (less than 6) of Key Problems. The assessment is designed to be completed by a practitioner, and can be completed over a period of time (2 weeks) in view of the extent of the areas that it covers.

There are numerical measures for each item, ranging from 0+ (a positive strength), through 0 (no problem), and up to 4 (very severe problem). Each item has its own descriptions of the levels of severity to help in scoring.

Each item also offers the opportunity to label it as one of a small number (say 6 or less) of Key Problems, which is a helpful way to focus on the most pressing problems in a complex situation.

The version applied in a TiddlyManual has particular interactive properties with manualized content, which generates AIM suggested interventions, according to the results of the assessment.

You can complete only part of an AIM (just a handful of items, or even just one item) and "suggested interventions" will still be generated. Good if you want a prompt without going into details around the complexity of a case.

What next?

• AIM Form - This is where you can check boxes to record your assessment - what you type is NOT uploaded to the internet, but at the end of the assessment you can click a button ("Export AIM" under the heading "AIM results") that creates a report that you can then file or export to a local database.
• AIM suggested interventions - These are found at the end of the AIM Form in the AIM Results section. Once completed, the AIM questionnaire finds and ranks suggested Specific interventions, according to the needs defined in assessment profile given in the AIM Form, and related to the available evidence base.
• Topics covered by the AIM - a checklist - A short checklist of the major topics covered - print it out as a prompt to ensure you cover the right areas as you gather the NARRATIVE ACCOUNT of the history of the problems in your Multi-Domain Assessment.