Psychiatry Advanced-Addiction

(4 Credits)

This advanced 4-week elective offers the student a unique opportunity to evaluate and treat patients with both substance misuse disorders and complex co-occuring psychiatric disorders on the Dual Diagnosis Training Unit, a 30-bed inpatient psychiatric unit at Bellevue Hospital. As an advanced elective, the student will gain an understanding of the core principles, foundational knowledge, and essential skills relevant to the specialty of psychiatry. While the patients on this service most frequently use alcohol, cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines or cannabis, the service also treats patients who use phencyclidine (PCP), hallucinogens, inhalants, methamphetamine, and other drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, and GHB. Prescription drug misuse is also common. The majority of patients also suffer from psychotic and/or mood disorders, as well as severe personality disorders, trauma, and significant psychosocial stressors. The student will also learn about associated neurobiology, psychopathology, behavior modification techniques, group therapy techniques, motivational interviewing, and psychopharmacology specifically designed for this patient population.