Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry

Aims of the module:
Develop healthcare professionals' knowledge and skills to confidently diagnose psychiatric disorders based on a biopsychosocial model, underpinned by a critical exploration and understanding of classification systems.

Module Content:
The importance of history taking in psychiatry.
The various sections of the mental state examination.
Diagnosis: primary vs multi-axial diagnosis; classification systems DSM V and ICD-10.
The interface between physical health and mental health.
Assessment of risks; suicide/self-harm and harm to others.
The biopsychosocial model of management, using clinical scenarios.

Learning outcomes:

1. Critically apply the use of biopsychosocial formulation and diagnostic classification systems to assess psychiatric disorders in primary care.
2. Analyse complex presentations, recognising the contribution of organic and psychiatric components in psychiatric presentation.

Aims of the module:
Provide healthcare professionals with knowledge and skills to assist in the diagnosis of common and major psychiatric presentations such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychosis, and personality disorders. Foster this understanding to manage this patient group using a biopsychosocial model, supported by ethical and legal aspects where required.

Module Content:
Assessment of the major typical psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, personality disorders) by using classification systems to understand a variety of symptoms.
Management of the above, with a focus on evidence-based treatments.

Learning outcomes:

1. Apply critical judgement in diagnosing and managing common psychiatric disorders in primary care using a biopsychosocial approach.
2. Critically evaluate the influence of evidence-based practice in the management of serious and enduring mental illnesses within current ethical and legal frameworks.

Aims of the module:
Enhance the unique skills needed for caring for older adults with major psychiatric disorders like depression, delirium, dementia, anxiety, and paranoid states. Update the knowledge and information needed for diagnosis and management, including non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions using the biopsychosocial model and legal framework for mental capacity and relevant medicolegal and ethical issues.

Module Content:
Hypoactive, hyperactive and mixed delirium.
The clinical features of various types of dementia.
Management of dementia through medication; care in the community.
Emotional disorders in the elderly, with a focus on evidence-based treatment and the biopsychosocial model of management.
The risks of ageing – falls, abuse, frailty, psychosocial aspects.
The principles and use of psychopharmacology in old age, through complex clinical scenarios.

Learning outcomes:

1. Critically analyse and apply current evidence-based developments in the diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders in older adults.
2. Evaluate the influence of societal context on the mental health of older people and select appropriate management approaches, including psychopharmacology, within current legal frameworks.

Aims of the module:
Enable students to recognise and manage a range of complex and atypical psychiatric presentations with a high prevalence in a primary care setting.

Module Content:
Medically unexplained symptoms in the context of somatoform disorders, hypochondriasis conversion and dissociation.
Assessment and management of atypical psychiatric presentations, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and eating disorders.
Perinatal psychiatric disorders and the peri/post-natal use of psychotropic medications.
Other atypical presentations, such as body dysmorphophobia, gender dysphoria, culture bound syndromes and adult ADHD.

Learning outcomes:

1. Distinguish between a range of complex and atypical psychiatric presentations and critically appraise the evidence base in formulating appropriate treatment and management plans.
2. Analyse and synthesise different perspectives in understanding the impact of the diagnosis and management of an atypical psychiatric disorder on the patient and those around them.

Aims of the module:
Develop healthcare professionals’ ability to diagnose and appropriately manage or refer the most common presentations in young people, including emotional disorders, conduct disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Enable students to recognise pathways of management for complex presentations within intellectual disability and neuropsychiatry.

Module Content:
Assessment and management of self-harm, anxiety, emotional disorders and depression in children.
Conduct and behaviour disorders, with a consideration of aetiological factors.
Assessment and management principles for neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism.
Pathways of psychiatric care in people with intellectual or learning disabilities.
Common presentations and principles of management in neuropsychiatry.
Acute and chronic consequences and management of traumatic brain injury

Learning outcomes:

1. Synthesise and evaluate evidence-based interventions to formulate comprehensive treatment plans for complex child psychiatry presentations in primary care settings.
2. Critically evaluate management approaches to co-morbid and complex neuropsychiatric cases in primary care.

Aims of the module:
Familiarise healthcare professionals with key terms in substance misuse to facilitate history-taking and the use of assessment tools to formulate a management plan.

Module Content:
Substance use/misuse/abuse/addiction, history taking and motivational assessment.
The role of physical health assessment in substance misuse.
Symptoms and management of Alcohol Use Disorder.
Drug dependence and newer substances of abuse: management and risks.
Neuropsychiatry and complications of substances of abuse, in particular Wernicke’s encephalopathy and dementia.
Various clinical conundrums in substance misuse (ADHD and addiction, personality and addiction, gambling, crime).

Learning outcomes:

1. Critically analyse and synthesise biopsychosocial risk factors to construct comprehensive formulations for complex substance misuse cases.
2. Critically appraise the evidence to select appropriate psycho-social and medication interventions in the management of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and drug misuse.