To acquaint students with common abnormal behavioral syndromes such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, cognitive impairment disorders, brain disorders, alcoholism and drug abuse. To discuss these disorders in terms of their phenomenology, epidemiology, natural history, diagnosis, and treatment, and to elucidate possible underlying neurobiological and psychosocial mechanisms as the bases of some of these disorders. To acquaint students with strategies and problems of information gathering and recording in psychiatry. Specifically, to demonstrate and to give a practical opportunity to record history and mental status findings, formulate a differential diagnosis, and consider treatment approaches. Following lectures, students break up into groups of eight students each with a psychiatrist group leader.
Meeting lasts approximately an hour and a half.
The bulk of group sessions consists of an interview with a patient selected to illustrate one of the behavioral problems which will be discussed during the quarter. The final portion of each small group meeting consists of a general discussion of students' observations regarding the patient, treatment issues, etc. Students are encouraged to discuss further the material which was presented in lecture. Faculty group leaders will help students understand lecture and reading material, as well as lead discussions following patient interviews. All of the following areas must be satisfactorily completed to receive a passing grade for this segment.