Advanced Skills in Community Psychiatry

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.
It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The practice of psychiatry in the western world has changed in the last few decades from being based in institutions to within the community. Modern primary care and community mental health settings present different opportunities and challenges for the medical practitioner compared with hospital environments. These include working more effectively with consumers and carers as well as an often complex service system involving multiple agencies. Medical practitioners need to be aware of specific community based treatment strategies and to critically appraise the evidence for these treatments and service models. Recovery processes are also better understood and should be incorporated in treatment plans. Ethical, cultural, socio-economic and political issues all impact on primary care and community psychiatry and practitioners need to be cognizant of these. In this selective, students will gain an in-depth understanding of primary care and community psychiatry as well as acquiring some advanced skills in treatment and service planning and delivery appropriate to these settings.

• Describe the incidence, prevalence and presentation of psychiatric disorders in primary care
• Describe the factors affecting treatment outcome (including lifestyle, social, broad cultural and environmental factors)
• Apply the various biological, social and cultural models to understanding and treating psychiatric disorders in primary care and the community
• Understand and apply the principles and practice of providing effective mental health treatments in diverse community settings
• Appraise the various ethical, cultural, socio-economic, practical and political factors influencing service delivery
• Interpret and disseminate relevant scientific information in primary care and community psychiatry

• Verbal presentation on a designated topic (40%)
• student participation (10%)
• and 1500 word essay (50%)

Meadoews G, and Singh B (eds) mental health in Australia: Collaborative Community Practice, Oxford University Press, Melbourne 2001.

Thorneycroft G and Smoker G (eds) Testbook of Community Psychiatry, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2001.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.