Students are expected to do complete evaluations on a minimum of one patient per week. These evaluations include multiple interviewing, complete history taking of both the present and past illnesses, evaluation of medical status, a complete mental status examination, diagnostic assessment, and the preparation of a treatment plan. This exercise, its observation, presentation, and criticism serves as the major clinical experience which addresses the objectives of the clerkship. Approximately six evenings of their clerkship, students will also take call at the emergency rooms at the VA, Naval Hospital and UCSD Medical Center, where they are able to observe and interview grossly disturbed patients under the supervision of first year residents. Throughout all of the clinical facilities, an effort is made to expose the student to patients with the widest range of psychopathology.
All texts are available at the campus bookstore.
Medical student attendance is mandatory. In addition, each service has its own staff conferences and attending rounds, generally two to three times per week. Students at the VA are not expected to attend the residents didactic series. On each service, the senior resident and the service chief spend an additional hour per week with the medical students. The purpose of these meetings is to present case material, review videotaped interviews, participate directly in interviewing, and discuss other specific issues relating to psychiatry.