A neural systems-based neurobiology and neuropsychiatry course: integrating biology, psychodynamics, and psychology in the psychiatric curriculum.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
Psychotherapy and biological psychiatry remain divided in psychiatry residency curricula. Behavioral neurobiology and neuropsychiatry provide a systems-level framework that allows teachers to integrate biology, psychodynamics, and psychology.

METHOD:
The authors detail the underlying assumptions and outline of a neural systems-based neuroscience course they teach at the National Capital Consortium Psychiatry Residency Program. They review course assessment reports and classroom observations.

RESULTS:
Self-report measures and teacher observations are encouraging. By the end of the course, residents are able to discuss both neurobiological and psychodynamic/psychological concepts of distributed biological neural networks. They verbalize an understanding that psychology is biology, that any distinction is artificial, and that both are valuable.

CONCLUSIONS:
A neuroscience curriculum founded on the underlying principles of behavioral neurobiology and neuropsychiatry is inherently anti-reductionistic and facilitates the acquisition of detailed information as well as critical thinking and cross-disciplinary correlations with psychological theories and psychotherapy.

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Author information

Author/s: Lacy, Timothy (T); Hughes, John D (JD);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, MD 20762, USA. timothy.lacy(-atsign-)pentagon.af.mil

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Academic psychiatry : the journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry (Acad Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Sep-Oct; vol 30 (issue 5) : pp 410-5

Dates: Created 2006/10/05; Completed 2007/01/10;

PMID: 17021150, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Brain - physiopathology
Curriculum
Education - organization & administration
Humans
Internship and Residency
Mental Disorders - physiopathology
Neurobiology - education

Neurobiology - education
Observation
Pharmacology - education
Psychiatry - education
Psychology - education
Psychotherapy - education
Teaching - methods

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