Learning Objectives:

Objectives of the Third Year Clerkship in Psychiatry

Skills

• To skillfully obtain information via the medical interview including both objective and subjective information.
• To perform a thorough mental status exam, ideally integrating it into the interview.
• To obtain data from collateral sources where indicated.
• To synthesize data from all sources into a coherent assessment utilizing the biopsychosocial model. This includes the development of complete differential diagnoses.
• To construct a management plan for their patients.
• To effectively record clinical observations.

Attitudes/Professionalism

• To develop an understanding of the experience of individuals who suffer from mental illness.
• To demonstrate behaviors reflecting that understanding (i.e. empathy).
• To demonstrate behaviors that demonstrate integrity (e.g. reliability, responsibility)
• To establish good relationships with members of the health care team.
• To understand how their own life experiences influence their reactions and interactions with their patients.
• To develop an understanding of appropriate boundaries in the physician/patient relationship.
• To use available resources (e.g. clinical supervision, provided materials and computer resources) to learn from day to day work with patients.

Knowledge

• To understand the diagnostic classification system used in psychiatry (DSM-IV)
• To know the specific diagnostic criteria for common psychiatric disorders which are likely to be encountered by non-psychiatric physicians.
• To understand how to recognize medical or substance induced causes of psychiatric signs and symptoms.
• To understand the broad range of psychiatric treatments (biological, psychological and social) and develop specific knowledge of treatments which are likely to be used by non-psychiatric physicians (e.g. pharmacotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders).
• To understand the process of civil commitment.