Competency Based Objectives

I.  Patient Care

A.  Ability to gather essential and accurate information about patients.

• Students will develop the ability to conduct a thorough psychiatric interview and obtain information that will lead to a formulation of the psychiatric problem.

B.  Ability to use that information to care for psychiatric patients and their families/support system.

• Students will develop the ability to formulate an Axial diagnosis, including diagnoses on all five Axes.
• Students will participate in treatment planning.
• Students will learn to educate patients and their families/support systems about diagnoses, and subsequent care.

II.  Medical Knowledge

A.  Develop a working knowledge of the following diagnoses:

• Cognitive disorders (dementia, delirium)
• Psychiatric aspects of medical disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Personality disorders
• Substance abuse/dependence disorders
• Childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorders

B.  Develop a working knowledge of the major classes of psychotropic medications, their indications, contraindications, and possible side effects. This includes the following drug classes:

• Antipsychotic
• Anti-anxiety
• Mood stabilizers
• Antidepressants
• Sedative/hypnotics
• Other drug classes that display psychiatric side effects

III.  Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

• Students will demonstrate the ability to obtain and critically evaluate medical literature using electronic resources.

IV.  Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Students will develop the ability to communicate empathically with a patient who has a psychiatric illness.

• Students will develop the ability to communicate empathically with the families/support system of psychiatrically ill patients.

• Students will be able to write appropriate Progress Notes and Histories and Physicals.

• Students will be able to appropriately present information to residents and/or attendings.

V.  Professionalism

• Students will display the utmost respect toward all with whom they interact. This will include appropriate dress, respectful attitude and communication with peers, staff, and patients.  Students will display sensitivity to all races, genders, and cultures. The “Professionalism Documentation Form” will be used to document instances where students display exceptional performance, or lapses of professionalism.