Psychiatry Curriculum

Overview

Psychiatry Curriculum for Inpatient Employees

Overview:

This curriculum is designed to provide inpatient psychiatry employees, including nurses, social workers, psychiatric technicians, and other support staff, with the foundational knowledge and skills to improve patient care in a psychiatric inpatient setting. It aims to enhance their ability to manage a variety of psychiatric disorders, recognize and intervene in crisis situations, understand therapeutic approaches, and improve the overall therapeutic environment.

Duration:

- Duration: 12 weeks (Adjustable based on schedule flexibility)

- Frequency: Weekly sessions (2-3 hours each)

- Format: A combination of lectures, case discussions, role-playing, observational learning, and hands-on workshops.

Curriculum Outline:

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Week 1: Introduction to Psychiatry in the Inpatient Setting

- Topics:

  - Overview of inpatient psychiatry: Roles of the inpatient psychiatric team.

  - Importance of multidisciplinary collaboration.

  - Understanding psychiatric hospitalization: Goals and purpose.

  - Ethical considerations in inpatient psychiatry.

  - Legal issues: Patient rights, involuntary admission, and confidentiality.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Gain familiarity with the roles and responsibilities of inpatient psychiatry employees.

  - Understand the ethical and legal framework guiding inpatient psychiatric care.

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Week 2: Psychiatric Assessment and Diagnosis

- Topics:

  - Basic psychiatric evaluation: History-taking and mental status examination (MSE).

  - Understanding the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

  - Common psychiatric diagnoses encountered in inpatient settings (e.g., mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders).

  - Recognizing emergency conditions (e.g., delirium, acute psychosis).

- Learning Objectives:

  - Learn how to perform a thorough psychiatric assessment.

  - Understand the diagnostic process and common inpatient psychiatric diagnoses.

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Week 3: Crisis Management and De-escalation Techniques

- Topics:

  - Understanding and identifying escalating behaviors.

  - Non-violent crisis intervention strategies.

  - De-escalation techniques for agitated or violent patients.

  - Use of seclusion and restraint: Protocols and ethical considerations.

  - Communication strategies for managing crisis situations.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Learn effective de-escalation strategies to manage aggressive or agitated patients.

  - Understand when and how to use seclusion and restraint while ensuring patient dignity and safety.

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Week 4: Medications in Psychiatry

- Topics:

  - Overview of psychotropic medications: Antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, and sedatives.

  - Medication side effects and monitoring.

  - Medication adherence and patient education.

  - Addressing medication refusal or non-compliance.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Understand the common classes of psychiatric medications and their effects.

  - Recognize common side effects and potential complications of medications.

  - Learn how to support medication adherence and educate patients.

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Week 5: Managing Common Psychiatric Disorders: Mood Disorders

- Topics:

  - Understanding depression and bipolar disorder: Symptoms, treatment, and care approaches.

  - Recognizing suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors.

  - Monitoring and supporting patients in acute depressive or manic episodes.

  - Supporting patients in managing mood disorder symptoms in an inpatient setting.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Identify the signs and symptoms of mood disorders.

  - Learn how to manage and intervene with patients experiencing depressive or manic episodes.

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Week 6: Managing Common Psychiatric Disorders: Psychotic Disorders

- Topics:

  - Understanding schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

  - Recognizing symptoms of psychosis: Delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking.

  - Medication management and psychosocial interventions.

  - Helping patients navigate the inpatient environment during psychotic episodes.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Recognize signs of psychosis and understand the treatment approaches.

  - Learn how to assist patients in managing psychotic symptoms during their hospitalization.

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 Week 7: Substance Use Disorders in Psychiatry

- Topics:

  - Understanding the role of substance use disorders in psychiatric settings.

  - Identifying symptoms of withdrawal and intoxication.

  - Addressing dual diagnoses (psychiatric and substance use disorders).

  - Interventions for managing detoxification and withdrawal.

  - Motivational interviewing and other techniques to address substance use issues.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Identify symptoms of substance use disorders and withdrawal.

  - Learn intervention strategies for working with patients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

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Week 8: Trauma-Informed Care and PTSD

- Topics:

  - Introduction to trauma-informed care principles.

  - Understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

  - Trauma-informed approaches in inpatient settings: Building trust and safety.

  - Working with patients with a history of trauma.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Understand the principles of trauma-informed care and their importance in the inpatient psychiatric setting.

  - Learn how to approach patients with PTSD and histories of trauma with sensitivity.

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Week 9: Personality Disorders in Inpatient Care

- Topics:

  - Overview of common personality disorders (e.g., borderline, antisocial, narcissistic).

  - Approaches to working with patients with personality disorders.

  - Setting boundaries and maintaining professionalism.

  - Addressing challenging behaviors associated with personality disorders.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Gain an understanding of personality disorders and their impact on inpatient care.

  - Learn strategies for working effectively with patients with personality disorders.

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Week 10: Psychosocial Interventions and Therapeutic Techniques

- Topics:

  - Overview of common therapeutic techniques in psychiatry (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing).

  - Group therapy in inpatient psychiatry: Benefits and challenges.

  - Family involvement and psychoeducation.

  - Engaging patients in treatment and rehabilitation planning.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Understand different therapeutic approaches and their applications in the inpatient setting.

  - Learn techniques for engaging patients in therapeutic processes.

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Week 11: Ethical and Cultural Competence in Psychiatry

- Topics:

  - Ethical challenges in psychiatric care: Informed consent, capacity, and autonomy.

  - Cultural competence in psychiatric practice: Addressing cultural differences in treatment.

  - Supporting patients from diverse backgrounds in an inpatient setting.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Enhance understanding of ethical issues in psychiatry.

  - Learn strategies for providing culturally competent care to a diverse patient population.

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Week 12: Recovery-Oriented Care and Discharge Planning

- Topics:

  - The principles of recovery-oriented care in psychiatric settings.

  - Importance of discharge planning and continuity of care.

  - Developing individualized treatment plans and aftercare.

  - Involving patients and families in discharge planning.

- Learning Objectives:

  - Understand the recovery model and its application in inpatient care.

  - Learn how to support patients in preparing for discharge and ensuring follow-up care.

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Assessment & Evaluation:

- Pre/Post-Test: To assess knowledge gained before and after the curriculum.

- Case Study Reviews: To evaluate real-life applications and understanding.

- Role-Playing and Simulation: To test crisis management and de-escalation skills.

- Feedback: Regular feedback sessions for employees to discuss challenges and learning points.

Training Methodology:

- Interactive Lectures: To provide foundational knowledge.

- Case Discussions: Real-world case scenarios to apply learning.

- Role-Playing/Simulations: Practical applications of skills such as crisis management, therapeutic communication, and patient engagement.

- Supervised Patient Interactions: Opportunities to observe and interact with patients under the guidance of senior staff.

Outcome Goals:

- Enhanced ability to manage psychiatric patients in an inpatient setting.

- Improved teamwork and collaboration among multidisciplinary staff.

- Increased confidence in managing challenging psychiatric conditions and crises.

- Development of a more compassionate and effective approach to patient care in the inpatient psychiatric environment.

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This curriculum can be adjusted based on the specific needs of your hospital or psychiatric unit, and it should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect new research and best practices in the field of psychiatry.