During the clinical clerkship the student develops understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of major psychiatric disorders. Students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of Psychiatry through patient interviews, physical examination with emphasis on the mental status exam, review of imaging and laboratory studies, and a variety of other educational experiences. This clerkship will expose students to management of patients with major psychiatric disorders at Ascension Via Christi Hospitals and the KU Department of Psychiatry Clinic. Prerequisite: Basic Sciences.

The course will familiarize students with common psychiatric diagnoses and therapies for children and adolescents. Students will observe and participate in the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents in inpatient and outpatient settings. They will attend staffing, family meetings and relevant conferences. Faculty will provide supervision and a written evaluation. Prerequisite: PSCR 950.

The student will experience caring for elderly and often medically ill patients with psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses on an acute geropsychiatry hospital unit, in outpatient settings. Experience will be gained in assessing and managing complex medical and psychiatric conditions in elders. Objectives include: 1) Increase awareness of the common psychiatric conditions in elders; 2) Improve ability to assess, diagnose and treat common psychiatric conditions in elders who commonly have comorbid medical conditions; 3) Understand the impact of the elder's environment on psychiatric symptoms and the necessity of managing the elder within the context of the psychosocial environment, especially the family unit; 4) Improve ability to manage complex pharmacotherapy. Teaching methodology includes bedside clinical rounds, geropsychiatry small-group discussions, lectures and assigned readings. Patient contact would include elderly patients with common psychiatric conditions - affective disorders, dementias, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders and comorbid medical conditions, acute care hospital geropsychiatry unit, and outpatient clinic. Faculty will provide supervision and a written evaluation. Prerequisite: PSCR 950 and INMD 975.

The objective of this course is to increase the student's depth of knowledge regarding psychiatric disorders as they present in an outpatient setting. Emphasis will be on clinical skills including the psychiatric interview and diagnostic process and gaining a longitudinal perspective on psychiatric illness. In addition, the student will be introduced to psychotherapy theory and skills. Students will attend departmental academic events, teaching conferences and participate in intake evaluations performed by psychiatry residents. They will also participate in observing a selected number of ongoing cases in conjunction with residents. Students will evaluate patients for intake early in their rotation and follow these cases throughout their rotation. Faculty will provide supervision and a written evaluation. Prerequisite: PSCR 950.

This course is designed to expand the student's experience in general psychiatry by having them assume supervised, clinical responsibility equivalent to that of an intern or PGY-1 resident. Students will perform and dictate initial history and physical examinations, formulate diagnoses and treatment plans, write orders to be reviewed and countersigned, dictate discharge summaries, participate in the evaluation and intervention of psychiatric emergencies, attend scheduled rounds, conferences, and PGY-1 didactics. Prerequisite: PSCR 950, INMD 975, SGRY 975, senior standing.