UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING

Institute of Psychiatry is affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical College, which is one of the most prestigious medical colleges in the country. The Institute has played an important role in developing undergraduate curriculum at Rawalpindi Medical College. This is implemented through a formal training programme in Psychiatry, which focuses on enabling the students to acquire specific knowledge related to mental health issues, and further develop their clinical skills and attitudes. The academic activities are designed for all clinical years and most of these are evaluated towards the end of the attachment. The students are encouraged to give feedback, which helps in improving the programme.

In addition, the Institute of Psychiatry was privileged to introduce the subject of Behavioural Sciences at Rawalpindi Medical College where the course is being taught since 1998. There is, now, a formal examination by the University of Health Sciences for Behavioural Sciences. The objectives are to incorporate the psychosocial aspects of health care and introduce the relevant social sciences so that the doctors are better trained to understand the human behaviour and other related aspects. Following educational activities have been going on in the institute:

The clinical teaching involves the admitted patients, as well as the videotapes of interesting patients, which are regularly prepared in the Institute. The consistent standard of undergraduate teaching in the background of a clear vision for the future, the students at Rawalpindi Medical College, Rawalpindi have won gold medal examinations on six occasions. Pakistan Psychiatric Society conducts this examination every two years on the occasion of International Psychiatric Conference. In this examination students from all the medical colleges participate. Foreign and local consultant examines them.

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

The Institute has long been recognized to lead the postgraduate training in Psychiatry in the country. The formal training programme was established in late 1970’s when the first trainee was registered for MCPS examination, which was followed by registration for FCPS exam in mid 1980’s. Since then, 70 doctors have completed their training and successfully accomplished the fellowship and memberships of the College of Physicians & Surgeons. In addition, as many as 30 doctors trained at the Institute to join the training programme in UK to become members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK. The Institute has also contributed towards the training programmes at other centres in the country by holding shorter and more intensive courses for the trainees.

The total period of postgraduate training is four years. The objectives of the training are designed so that all trainees, at the time of completion of their training, should be capable of functioning as independent specialists with an ability to provide health care and sustain administrative duties. In addition, they are able to contribute towards undergraduate teaching and organize other educational activities.

There are three approved trainers at the Institute who supervise the training programme, which is reviewed and updated at regularly. During this period, there is regularly participation in the clinical activities including in patient care, supervised outpatient’s clinics and emergency/ on call duties. In addition, there are specialized clinical rotations including Community Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry and Liaison Psychiatry. The Institute has also organized formal training in specialized investigations like EEG and Psychometric testing.

TRAINING OF HOUSE OFFICERS

There are six seats for the hose officers. An extensive training program, with clear objectives of the training is in place. The house officer has a choice of either a three months’ rotation or they can work for six months.

TRAINING OF POST GRADUATE TRAINEES OF MEDICINE

The institute provides placement and training for the postgraduate trainee in medicine to complete three months training in psychiatry. This is a standard requirement of CPSP. These trainees have a separate training program and they are also integrated into the ongoing teaching and training activities of the institute.

Training of Primary Care Physicians

The Institute has developed mental health training manuals for all levels of primary care. The list of such manual is given under publication. The training involves two phases: The first phase lasts for 10 days and includes lectures, demonstration, discussion, and case presentations. The second phase involves regular evaluation and supervision by the community support team of the Institute. This involves discussing the difficulties encountered by the primary care physicians. A pre and post training assessment of the PCP is done using MCQ type questions. The Institute has to date trained around 1000 PCP from all the four provinces of the country.

Training of Education Administrators and Teachers

The Institute has trained education administrators, including those dealing with special children. The Institute has held regular workshops for them. The main idea has been to increase the awareness among school children, teachers and the community through these workshops.

Training of Para-Medical Staff and Community Health Workers

A total of 3000 Multipurpose health workers have been trained intensively in the detection, treatment, referral and follow up of priority mental illnesses. The training was imparted at their respective places of work using simple technology like flow charts, discussions, demonstrations and practical work in the fields. A special manual in Urdu has been written and used for this training. 2000 Community Health Guides have been trained in identification, referral and follow up of mentally ill patients. These guides are imparted training through specially written posters, handouts and orientation camps.

Training for Under & Postgraduate Nurses

Nurses are given regular training in their under and postgraduate years. The postgraduate trainees take classes of trainee nurses in the School of Nursing; the muses get clinical teaching and experience whilst looking after in indoor patients. The psychiatric nursing is being actively focused upon to improve the knowledge and skills of the postgraduate nurses. In this regard Ms. Emma Jolly, an experienced psychiatric nurse from UK has joined the Institute on voluntary basis. She is helping formulating psychiatric care plans. The booklet comprising these plans is under print. The Institute has also been approached by Shifa College of Nursing for training their nursing staff.

Mental Health Orientation Courses For Psychiatric Social Workers

The Institute organizes training courses for the social workers, helping them understand the intricate and specialized care required in the rehabilitation of mentally ill patients. During the 8th October earthquake, non-availability of social workers and volunteers was badly felt. In this regard the Institute held crash-training programmes for volunteers and social workers. A link has also been established with the University of Manchester whereby this capacity would the further enhanced.

Training for Psychology Students

The Institute offers training facilities to the psychology students of various colleges of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The students complete their clinical attachment at the Institute. Currently the students from Fatima Jinnah Women University, F-7 College for Women and Postgraduate College for Women are coming to the institute for this purpose. They are attached with clinical teams.

Training of The Foreign Trainees

The Institute is having Collaborative programs with Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine Nepal, and training Psychiatrists from Nepal. The arrangements are underway to set up similar programme with Bangladesh. The Institute has also trained psychiatrists from Palestine, Egypt, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen Tunisia and Morocco. Researchers from University of London have received field research training in the context of developing countries.

Teaching at Fatima Jinnah Women University

The institute has been providing regular teaching to the Masters courses in Behavioural sciences at the FJ women university. The modules of Psychopharmacology and neuroanatomy are taught at the institute.

Representation of The Institute at National and International Level

The senior faculty members of the institute are regularly participating in the national and international conferences, seminars, symposia, and meetings on mental health where they present their work and research in the form of research papers conduct workshops on related issues share their experience with other participants of the World.

Participation in The Programmes of University of Health Sciences (UHS)

The faculty members of the institute have been incorporated in different programmes of UHS. Prof. Fareed Minhas is a member and secretary of the board of studies (Medicine). The faculty of the Institute is involved with he curriculum committee and as examiners of MBBS and Diploma in Psychological Medicine Examination.