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About Study Course

Credit points / ECTS:2 / 3
Course supervisor:Elmārs Tērauds
Study type:Full time
Course level:Master's
Target audience:Medicine
Language:English, Latvian
Branch of science:Clinical Medicine; Psychiatry

Objective

To give knowledge to the 6th Academic Year students about epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, diagnostics and course of disease (according to ICD-10) of mental and behavioural disorders mostly seen in daily practice of general practitioner. To give knowledge about emergency treatment in primary care, basic principles of prophylaxis, pharmacological treatment, social rehabilitation and the role of psycho therapeutic treatment of mental and behavioral disorders in the primary care. To give knowledge about organization and practical work of metal health care; to give knowledge about ethical and legal principles in psychiatry; and distributions of competence between different physicians when it comes to planning and organizing health care of mentally ill patients.

Prerequisites

Psychiatry and Addiction Disorders (Study Course in Psychiatry in the 4th Academic Year).

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

Etiology, course, clinical features and early diagnostic possibilities of mental disorders in primary care. Diagnosis and treatment of emergency cases in psychiatry. Basic principles of pharmacological treatment, social rehabilitation, role of psychotherapeutic treatment of mental disorders and support therapy of severe mental disorders in primary care. The role of primary care specialist in the above mentioned management.

Skills

Psychiatric evaluation, structured description of the mental disorder in medical records of primary care. Use of diagnostic scales. Features of practical work with different groups of patients (patients with organic mental disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, affective disorders, neurotic and stress related disorders, anxiety, somatoform disorders, eating disorders).

Competence

Knowledge about mental health care in primary care setting. Understanding ethical and legal principles in psychiatry; distributions of competence among general practitioner and a psychiatrist; planning and management of mental health care. Support therapy and psychoeducation of a patient and family members. Reduction of stigmatization and prejudices patients would have. Management of emergency psychiatric hospitalization.

Study course planning

Planning period:Year 2024, Autumn semester
Study programmeStudy semesterProgram levelStudy course categoryLecturersSchedule
Medicine, SSNMF11Master’sLimited choice
Medicine, MF11Master’sLimited choiceElmārs Tērauds
Planning period:Year 2025, Spring semester
Study programmeStudy semesterProgram levelStudy course categoryLecturersSchedule
Medicine, SSNMFz11Master’sLimited choice