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Unit of study_

BMRI5003: Clinical Psychiatry I

This unit of study provides psychiatry trainees with an opportunity to develop effective clinical skills including the psychiatric interview, mental state examination and biopsychosocial formulation. The management of psychiatric emergencies, risk assessment and the use of mental health legislation, as well as the relevance of diagnostic neuroimaging, are explored. This unit of study is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of how genetic and environmental risk factors affect the developing individual to generate the clinical symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Students will examine psychotic and mood disorders along with along with alcohol and substance use disorders. The course covers all aspects including aetiology, phenomenology and epidemiology as well as the complexities around diagnosis and diagnostic classification systems. This will provide students with the framework on which to develop management plans for these disorders according to a biopsychosocial framework with an emphasis on psychosocial care and recovery principles. The principles of neuropsychopharmacology with a focus on antipsychotic medication, mood stabilisers, antidepressants and their potential adverse consequences are covered in depth. Students will learn from lecturers who are experts in their field and hear about exciting areas of psychiatric research in suicide prevention, e-mental health and nutrition.

Code BMRI5003
Academic unit Brain and Mind Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the components of a comprehensive psychiatric and substance use assessment in order to assist you in your clinical role.
  • LO2. critically discuss the literature regarding epidemiology, aetiology and clinical characteristics of psychotic, mood and substance use disorders.
  • LO3. identify and summarise biological, psychological, cultural and social contributors to the patient’s illness and recovery in order to be able to present these in a formulation and differential diagnosis for patients presenting with psychotic, mood and substance use disorders.
  • LO4. construct comprehensive management plans under supervision using evidence-based biological and psychosocial approaches which can be applied in a recovery orientated, multidisciplinary team setting.
  • LO5. describe the principles and practical applications of involuntary and coercive treatment options in order to work within the relevant mental health and drug and alcohol legislation in your professional clinical role.