Description

Substance use disorders are some of the most frequently encountered clinical conditions seen in many medical and psychiatric practices. Many physicians feel that they have inadequate training in, and experience with, the treatment of substance use disorders as this is something that is often not emphasized in medical schools and residency programs.

Course objectivities

• Obtain knowledge and experience in the identification and treatment of intoxication, withdrawal, dependence, and abuse for multiple substances.
• Diagnose and develop a treatment plan for patients with substance use disorders and co-morbid mood, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders.
• Understand the use of benzodiazepines and anticonvulsants in alcohol detoxification in the outpatient setting.
• Become familiar with the use of Disulfiram, Acamprosate, and Naltrexone in the treatment of alcohol dependence; Buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid detoxification and maintenance; as well as Zyban and nicotine replacement therapy.
• Obtain a familiarity with commonly available clinical and self-help resources.
• Participate in individual supervision, team rounds, supervised group therapy experiences, and interdisciplinary clinical case conferences.

Instructional methodology (approximate # of hours per week)

• Treatment modalities include pharmacotherapy and group, individual, and family therapies.
• Average caseload is 6-10 patients per week.
• Rounds, discussions, didactics – 10 hours/week
• Patient contact – 20 hours/week
• Journal club – 1 hour week
• Grand Rounds 1.5 hours/week
• No weekend or call requirements

Description

Students will work with psychiatry resident and geriatric psychiatrist on a unit specializing in the inpatient evaluation and treatment of dementia.

Course objectivities

• Understand evaluation criteria of dementia
• Understand various treatment options for dementia
• Understand management of dementia 

Instructional methodology (approximate # of hours per week)

• Lectures - none 
• Rounds/Discussions - 20
• Patient Contact - 20 
• Lab - none 
• Patient Load - 4 
• Call - 1

Course #: PSYCH-870

Description

Forensic Psychiatry is an exciting field that combines psychiatry and the law. Much of the rotation will focus on the treatment of psychiatric disorders in incarcerated individuals. Issues related to substance abuse, personality disorders, mood disorders, and malingering will be seen in many of the patients. In addition, it will provide students with an opportunity to learn about competency issues and other legal matters as they pertain to psychiatric patients. Students may have the opportunity to make rounds on Death Row and when possible attend court proceedings. An attending physician and forensic Fellow will provide the instruction. Overall, the rotation affords the student with a fascinating educational opportunity.

Course objectivities

• Define, identify and become comfortable with evaluating personality disorders, substance abuse, and some of the rawest pathology you will ever encounter. The setting is a maximum security South Carolina prison. You will get to visit Death Row.
• Learn to identify and work with an incarcerated population whose psychopathology is grave enough to have contributed to their incarcerations.
• Learn to comprehensively care for psychiatric patients. After this rotation, you will never again be intimidated or uneasy about treating psychiatric patients.  

Instructional methodology (approximate # of hours per week)

• Lectures - One-on-one case discussions throughout each day of the rotation  
• Rounds/Discussions - 0
• Patient Contact - Daily  
• Lab - none 
• Patient Load - 50-60 weekly  
• Call - none
• Hours per week - 40. The students on this rotation are expected to be intellectually curious. There is no burdensome paperwork. Education is primary.

Description

Consult Liaison Psychiatry focuses on the treatment of psychiatric disorders arising in medical and surgical patients. The majority of the experience involves consultation work on adult inpatients in the main hospital at MUSC, a transitional care unit, and Kindred, a tertiary care facility for patients with a high degree of morbidity located at McClennan Banks on Calhoun Street. It is an exciting opportunity to see the practical interface between medicine and psychiatry. This rotation teaches students skills they can use as a resident in any specialty. Diagnostic skills, interviewing techniques, and psychopharmacology are emphasized. An attending physician and 2 PGY-2 residents will supervise the student. Students will be given more autonomy in diagnostic evaluations and carrying out of therapeutic planning than during their third year clerkship. Overall, the rotation provides the student a very practical experience in a fun, yet challenging, way.

Course objectives

• Define, identify and become comfortable with treating depressive disorders in the medical setting as well as delirium, somatoform illnesses and other DSM-IV diagnoses that occur in the general hospital
• Learn to identify and work with the different personality styles commonly seen in the medical/surgical setting
• Learn and be responsible for comprehensive patient care from initial consultation until establishment of appropriate follow-up

Instructional methodology

• Lectures - none 
• Rounds/Discussions - 15 
• Patient Contact - 10 
• Lab - none 
• Patient Load - 4-7 
• Call - none 

Description

This elective in adult inpatient psychiatry offers students the ability to enhance their knowledge of psychiatric disorders and overall level of autonomy. During this month, students will be encouraged to experience and participate in patient care at the level of an intern. Students will be exposed to a variety of psychiatric conditions including substance use disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. The rotation is designed to complement the third year psychiatry core, not duplicate the experience. Supervision will be provided by an attending psychiatrist and resident. Even if a student is not pursuing a career in psychiatry, the rotation will teach the student skills necessary during the intern year regardless of specialty.

Course objectives

The student will be able to do a psychiatric and behavioral evaluation and a psychodynamic formulation, and under supervision, to use the DSM-III-R in making multiaxial psychiatric diagnoses and participate in the treatment, management, and after-care planning of patients admitted to the Admissions Team of the psychiatric inpatient service.

Instructional methodology

Students will be expected to participate in all aspects of evaluation and treatment, functioning as an extern.  Students will be responsible for admitting patients, have a patient load of approximately 6-8 patients and will take call about every 4th night.  At least 2 cases will be formally presented and written up; when appropriate, cases of interest will be researched as possible case reports for a psychiatric journal.

Description

Short experience and exposure to psychiatric research, usually clinical in nature.

Course Objectives

• Understand diagnostic instruments
• Use outcome measures
• Understand IRB and ethical issues
• Learn basic of research design 

Instructional Methodology (approximate # of hours per week)

• Lectures - none
• Rounds/Discussions - 4
• Patient contact - 10
• Lab - 25
• Patient load - none
• Call  - none