A proposed solution to integrating cognitive-affective neuroscience and neuropsychiatry in psychiatry residency training: The time is now

John Torous; Adam P Stern; Jaya L Padmanabhan; Matcheri S Keshavan; David L Perez

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2015.05.007

A proposed solution to integrating cognitive-affective neuroscience and neuropsychiatry in psychiatry residency training: The time is now

Asian J Psychiatr. 2015 Oct:17:116-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2015.05.007. Epub 2015 May 21.

Authors

John Torous¹, Adam P Stern², Jaya L Padmanabhan³, Matcheri S Keshavan⁴, David L Perez⁵

Affiliations

¹ Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Boston, MA, USA; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
² Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Berenson Allen Center for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, USA.
³ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; McLean Hospital, Department of Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry, Belmont, MA, USA.
⁴ Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: dlperez@partners.org.

PMID: 26054985
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2015.05.007

Abstract

Despite increasing recognition of the importance of a strong neuroscience and neuropsychiatry education in the training of psychiatry residents, achieving this competency has proven challenging. In this perspective article, we selectively discuss the current state of these educational efforts and outline how using brain-symptom relationships from a systems-level neural circuit approach in clinical formulations may help residents value, understand, and apply cognitive-affective neuroscience based principles towards the care of psychiatric patients. To demonstrate the utility of this model, we present a case of major depressive disorder and discuss suspected abnormal neural circuits and therapeutic implications. A clinical neural systems-level, symptom-based approach to conceptualize mental illness can complement and expand residents' existing psychiatric knowledge.

Keywords: Education; Neural circuits; Neuropsychiatry; Neuroscience; Residency.

MeSH terms

Education / organization & administration*
Humans
Internship and Residency* / methods
Internship and Residency* / organization & administration
Needs Assessment
Neuropsychiatry / education*
Neurosciences / education*