Program Objectives

Goal:

The primary goal of the Diploma course in Psychiatry is to produce a post graduate clinician able to provide health care in the field of Psychiatry. A physician qualified in Psychiatry, at the end of the course, should be able to diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders, take preventive and curative steps for the disease in the community at all levels of health care and qualify as a consultant and teacher in the subject

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the relevance of mental health in relation to the health needs of the country.
• Ethical considerations in the teaching and practice of Psychiatry.
• Identify the social, economic, biological and emotional determinants of mental health.
• Identify the environmental causes as determinants of mental health.
• Institute appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative procedures to the mentally ill patient.
• Take detailed history, conduct appropriate ethically valid physical examination and institute appropriate evaluation procedures to make a correct clinical diagnosis.
• Perform relevant investigative and therapeutic procedures for the psychiatric patient.
• Recommend appropriate laboratory and imaging examinations and interpret the results correctly.
• Plan and deliver comprehensive treatment of a psychiatric patient using principles of rational drug therapy.
• Plan rehabilitation of psychiatric patient suffering from chronic illness.
• Clinically manage common psychiatric emergencies efficiently.
• Demonstrate empathy and humane approach towards patients and their families and respect their sensibilities.
• Demonstrate communication skills of a high order in explaining management and prognosis, providing counselling and giving health education messages to patients, families and communities.
• Develop appropriate skills to practice evidence-based psychiatry.
• Be aware of and take appropriate steps in the implementation of national mental health programs, effectively and responsibly.
• Be aware of the concept of essential drugs and rational use of drugs.
• Be aware of the legal issues in the practise of Psychiatry.
• Be aware of the special requirements in the practice of Child and adolescent Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry.
• Be aware of the role of sex and gender in the practice of psychiatry.
• Be able to determine the capacity and capability of the individual (especially children and adolescents) to identify and articulate a gender identity.