Psychology

Updated on May 15, 2023.

PSYCH*801. Psychiatry Clerkship. Introduces the student to the care of psychiatric patients. Learning objectives are to increase the students' ability to recognize, diagnose, and treat psychopathology, use empathic patient-centered interview techniques, understand uses of psychotherapy, brain stimulation, and psychopharmacological agents, establish a supportive therapeutic relationship with patients, document and verbally present a psychiatric history and mental status examination, and work with inter-professional healthcare personnel. Students engage in direct patient responsibility with close supervision from house staff and faculty. Experiences are supplemented with conferences, a workshop, simulation, and lectures. Prerequisite: successful completion of spreclerkship curriculum and a passing score on Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam. 8 s.h.

PSYCH*801K. Intro to Child/Adol Psych. This 1-week rotation will introduce students to the evaluation and management of a variety of childhood/adolescent psychiatric disorders on an acute inpatient psychiatric unit. The inpatient youth program at the IOP (2North) provides brief crisis stabilization of youth (5-17) with severe mood, behavior, anxiety, substance use, and thought disorders. The treatment team works closely with the patient, the family, and community providers to stabilize the crisis, improve coping skills and communication, and to ensure a smooth transition back to the community. 1 s.h.

PSYCH*802K. Intro to Geriatric Psych. This 1-week rotation will introduce students to working with an interdisciplinary treatment team on an inpatient psychiatric unit treating geriatric (> 60 years old) patients with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Common disorders encountered include depression, dementia, and delirium, and students will assist in the completion of initial and follow up examinations of patients and families. 1 s.h.

PSYCH*803K. Intro to Interventional Psych. This 1-week rotation will introduce students to patients with neuropsychiatric disorders who prove to be treatment-resistant or have difficulty tolerating first line psychopharmacologic treatments. These patients, particularly those with depression, are often referred for neuromodulatory interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Psychiatry is in the early stages of formally recognizing and training “interventionalists” who perform specialized procedures. This course will introduce students to neuromodulation and the emerging field of Interventional Psychiatry. 1 s.h.

PSYCH*811J. Child and Adolescent Psych. At the completion of this clinical rotation, students will be able to: 1.Diagnose various childhood psychiatric disorders in an acute care setting and describe methods used to stabilize these patients. 2. Interact effectively with families, children, and members of the treatment team. 3. Understand various treatment methods used in childhood psychiatric disorders including psychopharmacology, group therapy, and family therapy. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*812J. Geriatric Psychiatry. At the completion of this clinical rotation, students will be able to: 1. Perform psychiatric work-up of an elderly person with dementia, affective illness, or delirium. 2. Perform clinical evaluation of cognitive capacity of an elderly person. 3. Assess activities of daily living in an elderly person. 4. Select appropriate psychopharmacological treatments and tailor treatment to a geriatric patient. 5. Understand and apply the use of the milieu and interpersonal techniques in treatment of a geriatric patient. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*813J. Substance Abuse Treatment Clin. At the completion of this clinical rotation, students will be able to: 1. Perform an appropriate psychiatric evaluation for a patient with substance use disorder(s) with or without co-morbid psychiatric illness(es). 2. Describe treatment options for detoxification and rehabilitation for the following substances: Alcohol/benzodiazepines, opioids, cocaine, marijuana, nicotine. 3. Differentiate between a substance induced mood/psychotic disorder and a primary mood/psychotic disorder. 4. Describe the pharmacologic options for treating substance use disorders, including alcohol dependence, opioid withdrawal and dependence, and nicotine dependence. 5. Describe the medical complications that can occur with heavy alcohol, nicotine, opioid, and cocaine use. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*817J. VA Psychosomatic Consults. Students will be instructed on the basic principles of providing psychiatric consultation in a medical and surgical setting. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*818J. General Psychiatry. This selective introduces the student to the care of psychiatric patients and aims to improve the students' ability to recognize psychopathology, use interview techniques, correctly diagnose psychiatric disorders, appropriately use psychopharmacological agents, establish a supportive therapeutic relationship with patients, document and present a psychiatric history and mental status examination, and work with health care personnel. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*819J. Forensic Psychiatry. Forensic Psychiatry is a two week selective for third year medical students interested in Psychiatry. Students will spend time with the Physician on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit as well as attending court sessions to observe testimony. Supervision is built into all components and learning objectives will focus on forensic psychiatry. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*840. Geriatric Psychiatry. 2.5 s.h.

PSYCH*842. Forensic Psychiatry. Forensic Psychiatry is an elective that can be tailored to the fourth year medical student who has an interest in Psychiatry. Arrangements will be made to spend time with Dr. Maddox on Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Patrick B. Harris as well as attending court sessions in Upstate South Carolina to observe testimony. Supervision is built into all components and learning objectives will focus on forensic psychiatry. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*857. Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance use disorders are some of the most frequently encountered clinical conditions seen in many medical and psychiatric practices. Many physicians feel that they have inadequate training in, and experience with, the treatment of substance use disorders as this is something that is often not emphasized in medical schools and residency programs. Overall, the rotation affords the student with a fascinating educational opportunity. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*858. Geriatric Psychiatry. Students will work with psychiatry resident and geriatric psychiatrist on a unit specializing in the inpatient evaluation and treatment of dementia. Overall, the rotation affords the student with a fascinating educational opportunity. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*860. Interventional Psychiatry. Many patients with neuropsychiatric disorders prove to be treatment-resistant, or have difficulty tolerating first line psychopharmacologic treatments. These patients, particularly those with depression, are often referred for neuromodulatory interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Psychiatry is in the early stages of formally recognizing and training "interventionalists" who perform specialized procedures. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to neuromodulation and the emerging field of Interventional Psychiatry. 5 s.h.

PSYCH*870. Forensic Psychiatry. Forensic Psychiatry is an exciting field that combines psychiatry and the law. Much of the rotation will focus on the treatment of psychiatric disorders in incarcerated individuals. Issues related to substance abuse, personality disorders, mood disorders, and malingering will be seen in many of the patients. In addition, it will provide students with an opportunity to learn about competency issues and other legal matters as they pertain to psychiatric patients. Students may have the opportunity to make rounds on Death Row and when possible attend court proceedings. An attending physician and forensic Fellow will provide the instruction. Overall, the rotation affords the student with a fascinating educational opportunity. 2.5 or 5.0 variable  credit hours.

PSYCH*871. Psychosomatic Med Consults. Consult Liaison Psychiatry focuses on the treatment of psychiatric disorders arising in medical and surgical patients. The majority of the experience involves consultation work on adult inpatients in the main hospital at MUSC, a transitional care unit, and Kindred, a tertiary care facility for patients with a high degree of morbidity located at McClennan Banks on Calhoun Street. It is an exciting opportunity to see the practical interface between medicine and psychiatry. This rotation teaches students skills they can use as a resident in any specialty. Diagnostic skills, interviewing techniques, and psychopharmacology are emphasized. An attending physician and 2 PGY-2 residents will supervise the student. Students will be given more autonomy in diagnostic evaluations and carrying out of therapeutic planning than during their third year clerkship. Overall, the rotation provides the student a very practical experience in a fun, yet challenging, way. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*874. Child/Adolescent Psych Extern. The Child and Adolescent Unit (2N) in the Institute of Psychiatry offers students the ability to enhance their evaluation, treatment, management and knowledge of a variety of childhood/adolescent psychiatric disorders on an acute inpatient psychiatric unit. Students on this externship are required to participate at the level of an intern. This unit provides brief crisis stabilization of youth (5-17) with severe mood, behavior, anxiety, substance use, and thought disorders. The treatment team works closely with the patient, the family, and community providers to stabilize the crisis, improve coping skills and communication, and to ensure a smooth transition back to the community. Interdisciplinary Education: This externship not only benefits students interested in Psychiatry, but also those interested in: Pediatrics (including Developmental Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, and other pediatric subspecialties), Family Medicine, Neurology, and Pediatric Neurology. 5 s.h.

PSYCH*877. Adult Inpt Psych Externship. This elective in adult inpatient psychiatry offers students the ability to enhance their knowledge of psychiatric disorders and overall level of autonomy. During this month, students will be encouraged to experience and participate in patient care at the level of an intern. Students will be exposed to a variety of psychiatric conditions including substance use disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. The rotation is designed to complement the third year psychiatry core, not duplicate the experience. Supervision will be provided by an attending psychiatrist and resident. Even if a student is not pursuing a career in psychiatry, the rotation will teach the student skills necessary during the intern year regardless of specialty. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*881. Combined Med/Psych. Students who rotate in the Internal Medicine and Psychiatry Combined Experience would participate in a variety of clinical activities with dually trained faculty. Students would potentially join inpatient medicine and/or psychiatry teams, consult psychiatry service, and outpatient clinics in Rutledge Tower, lOP, and VA. The attending provider for all of these rotations would have combined training in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry. 5 s.h.

PSYCH*887. Adult Inpt Psych Externship. The MS4 student will have the chance to enhance their knowledge of psychiatric disorders and treatment while rotating at our inpatient psychiatry unit (AnMed Health and Harris Psychiatry Hospital) locations. Students are expected to participate at the level of an intern and will be exposed to a variety of psychiatric conditions. This externship will not only benefit students interested in Psychiatry, but also those interested in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine (and subspecialities), Emergency Medicine, and other fields that do not offer an externship. 5 s.h.

PSYCH*888. VA Adult Inpt Psych Extern. This elective offers students the chance to enhance their knowledge of psychiatric disorders and treatment while rotating at our VA location. Students are expected to participate at the level of an intern and will be exposed to a variety of psychiatric conditions. This elective not only benefits students interested in Psychiatry, but also those interested in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine (and subspecialties), Emergency Medicine, and fields that do not offer an externship. 5 s.h.

PSYCH*900A. Psychiatry Elective. This rotation includes all non-MUSC pre-approved electives for 4th year students. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*900E. Psychiatry Externship. This rotation includes all non-MUSC pre-approved externships for 4th year students. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.

PSYCH*970E. Psych Research. Individualized research. 2.5 or 5.0 variable credit hours.