Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On the completion of this subject, students will have a sound understanding of the clinical interview in psychiatry and be able to carry out and interpret this as well as the mental-state examination; the clinical features of all commonly encountered psychiatric syndromes; the principles of management of patients with common psychiatric disorders and the use of specific biological agents and simple psychosocial interventions; the appropriate timing and mechanisms of referral to specialist psychiatric services; the psychosocial impact of acute and chronic physical illness and the integration of clinical problems within a biopsychosocial framework.
Synopsis Continuous attachment to a psychiatric ward within a general hospital with active participation in all unit activities and daily clerking of patients after obtaining a full history and examination, including mental-state examination; regular participation in liaison psychiatry activities within the general hospital; clinical bedside tutorials reinforcing history and examination skills and developing diagnostic and management skills; clinical seminars covering principles of liaison psychiatry and clinical psychiatry in the general hospital setting as well as rostered experience in specialist psychiatric services in both the public and private sectors of the community.
Assessment Written (short answer) examination: 40% + Clinical long case presentation: 40% + Continuous assessment: 20%