Structure

Participants in the Concentration in Interventional Psychiatry will complete the following rotations:

ECT

Alongside CIP faculty, participating residents will gain experience administering ECT to patients. Residents will learn to identify the major indications and relative contraindications for ECT, evaluate the potential benefits and risks of ECT for a specific patient, identify the techniques that can be used to maximize the effectiveness and safety of ECT, and determine the appropriateness of the transition from acute to continuation or maintenance ECT. Residents are additionally required to attend a week-long visiting ECT Fellowship.


TMS/esketamine/IV ketamine

Alongside CIP faculty, residents will gain experience administering TMS, esketamine, and IV ketamine to patients. Residents will learn to identify the major indications and contraindications for TMS, esketamine, and IV ketamine, evaluate the potential benefits and risks of each treatment modality for a specific patient, complete brain mappings and properly operate the TMS device, navigate the regulatory requirements for esketamine, and determine the appropriateness of the transition from acute to continuation or maintenance treatment.


Interventional Psychiatry Consults

Residents will gain experience performing both inpatient and outpatient initial evaluations of patients for eligibility for treatment with ECT, TMS, or esketamine/IV ketamine. Residents will learn to perform a thorough and accurate initial psychiatric evaluation, evaluate the potential benefits and risks of ECT, TMS, and esketamine/IV ketamine for a specific patient, and communicate to patients, families, and other providers the rationale for the treatment recommendation.

Optional but encouraged rotations include:

  • TMS/esketamine at Pittsburgh VA Medical Center
  • Neuropsychiatry (movement disorders)
  • Neuropsychiatry (epilepsy)


Treatment Team Meetings

While a resident is enrolled in the rotations listed above, they will attend weekly interdisciplinary CIP treatment team meetings. These meetings are an opportunity to discuss and review the clinical decision-making regarding patients’ acute vs maintenance course of treatment, get input from faculty members and colleagues on complex cases, and collaborate with our interdisciplinary team. 


Scholarly Project

Residents in the Concentration in Interventional Psychiatry are strongly encouraged to engage in a scholarly project of their choosing related to interventional psychiatry, with faculty mentors providing guidance for project development. Residents work with mentors to identify specific assessment tools to best measure outcomes for their project. Residents are encouraged to disseminate their work through publications and presentations. 

Scholarly projects may relate to medical education, quality improvement, clinical research, and advocacy, among other topic areas. Relevant research may be completed as part of the Psychiatry Research Pathway (PRP) or Academic Administrator Clinician Educator (AACE) track.