Core Curriculum
CORE CURRICULUM COMPONENTS
There are several didactic courses taught throughout the residency that comprise the fundamental core curriculum. In addition to those listed below, there are several classes, such as forensics and geriatrics, offered annually or semi-annually to provide a comprehensive overview of psychiatry. Some of the core curriculum components are described below:
Addiction Psychiatry
This series of courses are designed to enhance knowledge and treatment skills in patients with substance-related disorders and the dually diagnosed patient. The continuum from acute intoxication and withdrawal to longitudinal approaches to management is presented. Attitudes toward individuals with addictions are also explored.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
This course emphasizes the basic concepts of dealing with children and families, including development, manifestations and treatment of common childhood mental disorders, and family issues and child abuse. Contrasts to adult psychiatric practice, interviewing techniques and history-taking are discussed.
Diagnostic Nomenclature: DSM-DSM-IV-TR (Case-based approach)
This introductory class emphasizes the history and importance of classification of mental disorders. Faculty discusses the strengths and limitations of DMS-IV and DSM-IV-TR and its construction as an instrument to survey mental disorders.
Emergency Psychiatry
This course is held during the first two months of matriculation to the residency program. It is designed to provide the introductory resident with specific expertise necessary for the assessment and intervention of emergent psychiatric conditions, including suicidality, homicidality, mood disorders, psychosis, and substance related emergencies. Faculty also discusses emergency treatment of disorders of childhood and adolescence.
Essentials of Clinical Psychiatry
This course provides an introductory but comprehensive overview of current knowledge in clinical psychiatry. Students will study the current edition of a major psychiatric text. Structured reading assignments and supplemental materials are discussed by the instructors. Self-assessment exercises are used to facilitate self-directed learning and stimulate class discussion.
Ethics
This course is conducted yearly and is intended to stimulate awareness and understanding of the ethical issues associated with psychiatry. The American Psychiatric Association code of ethics is discussed and many approaches to applying ethics are used, including didactic instruction, role play, and case-based discussion.
Evidence Based Psychiatry/APA Practice Guidelines
This course is designed to provide an in-depth look at evidence-based medicine and offer strategies for searching relevant psychiatric evidence to answer a specific question. The theory and process of evidence-based psychiatry is discussed and understanding and utilizing data to forward and improve psychiatric decision-making is emphasized.
Interviewing: PGY-1 Introduction
This class consists of discussions of the basic concepts of interviewing, including the role of patient and physician, participant observation, empathy and anxiety. The phases of an interview and how to use them in structuring an interview are presented. Practical techniques for attaining information from patients with varying degrees of cooperativeness are also discussed.
Interviewing: PGY-2 Advanced
Faculty discuss advanced concepts of the comprehensive interview, including analysis of transference and countertransference, risk assessment, and psychodynamic formulation. During this class, residents conduct patient interviews and colleagues, including faculty, provide feedback about the interview process and content.
Longitudinal Core Competency Course: The Psychiatric Professional
The core competency course consists of a series of educational activities conducted at various intervals throughout the residency. These sessions place particular emphasis on developing and assessing the resident’s incremental mastery of the core competencies: communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning, and systems-based learning. The activities include clinical interviewing skills, simulated professional examinations, and critiquing one’s own performance to stimulate self-directed learning. In addition, psychiatrists from the community are invited to discuss professionalism.
Neurology
This course covers basic concepts of clinical neurology and neurobiological science, emphasizing knowledge and skills relevant to clinical psychiatry. Students will study the current edition of Kaufman, Clinical Neurology for Psychiatrists. Class sessions consist of review of structured reading assignments and supplemental materials, and take-home practice quizzes, and brief presentations by instructors and participants.
PRITE Seminar
This course reviews the content of the most recently administered Psychiatry Resident In Training Examination. This course promotes active discussion of critical learning points in psychiatry and residents gain an understanding of their own intellectual strengths and areas of needed improvement.
Psychopharmacology
The psychopharmacology curriculum is integrated at all levels of postgraduate training with introductory, advanced, and controversial topics in current literature presented. A critical and evidence-based approach to psychopharmacological decision-making and biological and socioeconomic implications of treatment are emphasized.
