The student will be guided to reading in the four areas delineated under objectives above and will have opportunities to discuss these readings with the staff physician. Depending on cases seen the student will be exposed to not only psychiatric assessment and treatment, but also assessment of feeding problems, working with critically ill or dying patients and their families, and medical-legal issues of patient care. Attendance at didactic presentations with residents and fellows in psychiatry is expected. This course offers valuable experience in evaluating psychosocial and behavioral problems in the pediatric population for those considering pediatric, family practice, psychiatry or child psychiatry triple board residencies. This is an opportunity to acquire skills in dealing with acute psychiatric problems.
Emphasis is on short-term crisis intervention theory and approach.
Patients are seen through emergency room referral and on a walk-in basis 24 hours a day. Students will have the opportunity to work within the Community Mental Health Center system observing and participating in work with patients, families and community agencies. The student will be guided through an exploration of the internet resources in mental health. There is a library available to the student of several hundred papers regarding computers and psychiatry. The elective will be structured to reflect the student's interest and level of skills.