Psychiatry

The aim of this elective is to provide the student with an intensive experience in infant, child and adolescent psychiatry. The curriculum includes assessments of normal development and psychopathology in childhood, treatment methods, and research in major disorders of childhood. The elective takes advantage of the wide range of ongoing seminars, conferences, and clinical services in place at the Child Study Center. Teaching methods include seminars, conferences, field observations, ward rounds, and practica selected by the student following consultation with Director of Medical Studies, CSC. Open to fourth year students (not available in July or August).

This elective includes intensive work with inpatients who suffer from major psychiatric disorders with or without substance abuse. Emphasis is on assessment, acute treatment, and arrangement of continuing care in the community. The student functions as an integral member of a multidisciplinary treatment team. Clinical research participation is encouraged. Opportunities are available to explore special areas of interest (e.g., forensics, psychopharmacology, administrative) with CMHC faculty and scheduled during regular clerkship rotations.

This elective includes intensive work with patients who suffer from major psychiatric disorders, and range in age from college students to middle age. Emphasis is on assessment, acute treatment and arrangement of post-discharge follow-up care in the community. The student is an advanced clerk functioning as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, taking on primary clinician and psychiatric/medical responsibilities for patients under the supervision of senior clinicians. The elective is given on the inpatient service at the Yale Psychiatric Hospital; clinical research and outpatient involvement may be options. This elective is available during regular clerkship rotations.

This elective affords opportunities for third and fourth year students to observe and participate in "competency to stand trial" evaluations with a clinical team who make these assessments at the New Haven Correctional Center. In addition, they may attend Law School classes with students who represent psychiatric patients, observe civil commitment procedures, attend probate court hearings, as well as the criminal proceedings in local New Haven Superior Courts. Students attend work seminars where case evaluations and write-ups are discussed and prepared, and read appropriate legal cases and psychiatric literature. Students may be able to participate in parts of evaluations of insanity defense, custody determination, and other forensic issues. They attend the Law & Psychiatry seminar during their rotation. This elective is scheduled throughout the year (except August) during regular clerkship rotations.

The Yale University School of Medicine offers an elective clinical training experience in substance abuse for interested third and fourth year students. The primary training site is the Outpatient Service at the Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS) in West Haven. This experience is an intensive one in which students work closely with addicted patients with chronic mental illness. Students interested in learning about medical detoxification from alcohol and/or opiates may participate in an intensive 2 week elective in the Ambulatory Detoxification Clinic at the VACHS. Students will learn about the evaluation and treatment of alcohol withdrawal and detoxification. Patients with benzodiazapene and opiate dependence are also treated in this Clinic.

Please note: This elective is not available in the 2009 - 2010 school year.
This is an advanced clinical elective for 3rd and 4th year students who have a particular interest in the psychiatric disorders which can occur in medical-surgical patients. The staff has special interests in differential diagnosis of medical vs. psychiatric illness, in psychopharmacology and in computer applications in psychiatry. Each student works up patients in parallel with advanced residents in inpatient and emergency department settings. Teaching occurs on daily walk rounds. Scheduled during regular clerkship rotations (except July & August). (NOTE: Fourth-year students will be given preference).

Please note: This elective is not available in the 2009 - 2010 school year.
The Consultation Liaison Service at the Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS) provides consultation to acute medical and surgical units, to specialized rehabilitation units, and outpatient primary care clinics. Student participates in the management of patients with close supervision from attending staff. The goals of the rotation are:

1. to increase skill in conducting a psychiatric interview which maximizes the collection of pertinent clinical data
2. to use the data collected in formulating and implementing treatment plans emphasizing the interplay of biological and psychological factors in the patient's presentation
3. to experience the satisfaction of caring for patients with complex medical and psychiatric illness. Scheduled throughout the year (except July and August).