PSYC353A

VISITING: Open to visitors. TYPE OF CLERKSHIP: Elective. DESCRIPTION: Psychosomatic Medicine (PM) comprises the area of psychiatry concerned with the psychobiological care of the medically ill, which includes persons of all ages and those cared for in specialized medical settings. PM- psychiatrists, in addition to providing expert formal psychiatric consultation to medical and surgical patients in the general hospital, specialized hospitals and outpatient clinic settings, also train psychiatrists and non-psychiatrists in the recognition of normal and abnormal reactions to illness and appropriate psychological care of patients with such reactions. The PM psychiatrist may function both as a consultant and as part of the primary medical/surgical treatment team. Via conjoint rounds and teaching conferences (primary intervention), formal consultations (secondary intervention), and involvement in inpatient treatment and discharge planning (tertiary intervention), the PM psychiatrist provides a comprehensive approach to the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral needs of the patient. Thus one unique feature of our program is how the members of our team are integral member of so many other medico-surgical teams throughout the medical center. Participation in this rotation should allow students to learn about diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders common in all medical and surgical specialties, e.g., depression, anxiety, delirium, alcohol abuse, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, and somatic symptom and related disorders. Students will accompany psychiatric residents, fellows and faculty five days a week in performing consultations on medical-surgical units in SUH and in performing follow-up visits. Team rounds occur every morning. Formal didactic sessions occur twice weekly. Students will learn interview techniques, how to evaluate patients' psychosocial stressors and resources, how to write a cogent case report, present and discuss cases orally, work comfortably as a team member, perform differential diagnosis for depression, delirium, anxiety states, dementia, discuss indications and contra-indications for psychotropic medications and recognize and cope with emotional reactions to patients. Students will also learn advanced psychopharmacology, brief psychotherapy, management of difficult patients, and psychological and cultural aspects of the doctor-patient relationship. Please note: Visiting students must obtain approval from Ms. Quynh Dang prior to applying for this clerkship. Please email requests to qdang@stanford.edu. PREREQUISITES: Psychiatry 300A. PERIODS AVAILABLE: 1-12, full time for 4 weeks, 1 student per period. CLERKSHIP DIRECTOR: Jose Maldonado, M.D., 650-725-5599. CLERKSHIP COORDINATOR: Quynh Dang, 650-725-2769, 401 Quarry Rd, Rm. 2204. REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS: Where: Stanford Hospital - page one of the residents on service. Quynh will provide the resident information; Time: 8:00 am. CALL CODE: 0. OTHER FACULTY: A. Ament, F. Hussain, S. Lahijani, M. Schmajuk, Y. Sher. LOCATION: SHC.