Caitlin E. Snow

Use of Electronic Resources for Psychiatry Clerkship Learning: A Medical Student Survey

ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study is to examine medical students’ use patterns, preferences, and perceptions of electronic educational resources available for psychiatry clerkship learning.MethodsEligible participants included medical students who had completed the psychiatry clerkship during a 24-month period. An internet-based questionnaire was used to collect information regarding the outcomes described above.ResultsA total of 68 medical students responded to the survey. Most respondents reported high utilization of electronic resources on an array of devices for psychiatry clerkship learning and indicated a preference for electronic over print resources. The most commonly endorsed barriers to the use of electronic resources were that the source contained irrelevant and non-specific content, access was associated with a financial cost, and faculty guidance on recommended resources was insufficient. Respondents indicated a wish for more psychiatry-specific electronic learning resources.ConclusionThe authors’ results suggest that a demand exists for high-quality electronic and portable learning tools that are relevant to medical student education in psychiatry. Psychiatry educators are usefully positioned to be involved in the development of such resources.

Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology

Common effects of aging on the brain include reduced brain volume and weight caused by neuronal atrophy and reduced synaptic density and increase in cerebrospinal fluid volume. The thalamus and hypothalamus are particularly vulnerable to effects of aging. Neuron number is relatively preserved in healthy aging. Patterns of atrophy and neuropathological changes differentiate normal from various types of pathologic aging. The anterior hippocampus shows marked atrophy in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared with healthy aging.

Biochemistry and Neuropharmacology

Biochemical changes in the brain strongly contribute to age-related changes. In this chapter, theories of aging, including wear and tear, oxidative damage, DNA damage, and telomere shortening will be introduced. Also, the effects of aging on the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine will be reviewed. These neurotransmitters are often the therapeutic targets of treatment interventions.

A Multi-tiered Model for Clinical Scholarship

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) stipulates that all psychiatric residents need familiarity with scholarship and research [1]. However, clinical scholarship in academic settings is under pressure, with demands of quick treatment and few resources. The tension between clinical demands and academic models grows as the necessary focus on outcome and cost swells. As National Institutes of Health (NIH) support shifts towards basic science research, clinical faculty struggle to function simultaneously as funded investigators. A mentorship and infrastructure deficit ensues for psychiatric residents, making the ACGME mandate harder to fulfill [2]. We propose a coordinated model for scholarship beginning withmedical students and offering programming for residents, early career, and senior faculty, to facilitate academic scholarship. A continuum model encourages idea sharing, creates accountability, and fosters community.