Psychiatric Clinical Rotation; Psychiatry is the field of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental health disorders. Psychiatrists also deal with mental health disorders, including alcohol use disorder and marijuana use disorder. It takes about eight years of post-undergraduate study to become a broad-certified psychiatrist in the United States. The third year of study for medical students is exciting because they are involved in psychiatric clinical rotation. Clinical rotation, or clerkship as often called, is a program that helps psychiatry students apply the knowledge learned in the classroom during the first two years to real life.

Psychiatric Clinical Rotation
Psychiatric Clinical Rotation

 

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar is a mental disorder that causes extreme mood swings ranging from manic highs to depressive lows. I was shocked to learn that approximately 2.8 percent of all adults living in America were diagnosed with bipolar as of 2017. The prevalence rate of the disorder is slightly higher in male adults than in female adults. Asian-Americans are 20 percent more susceptible to the condition than White Americans. Bipolar disorder symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, loss of interest, agitations, restlessness, lack of concentration, and paranoia. People with bipolar may also talk very fast, have a decreased need for sleep, and feel overly happy for more extended periods.

Bipolar development is influenced by environmental factors, genetic factors, and or substance abuse. The treatment of bipolar involves a combination of therapies and medication. The therapies used include support group, family therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication such as Anticonvulsant, Antipsychotic, and SSRIs. Education on bipolar disorder is essential in my life as a nurse because it guides me in choosing the most appropriate therapy during treatment, thus improving care success. It also helps in the process of offering health education to patients and their families.

Schizophrenia disorder

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects how people think, feel, and behave. Individuals with Schizophrenia interpret reality abnormally. It is shocking to know that Schizophrenia is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Additionally, about 3.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with mental health conditions, most of them between 16 and 25. Schizophrenia is caused by either genetics, environmental factor, or psychosocial factors. The condition symptoms include hallucination, disorganized speech, delusions, loss of interest in activities, inappropriate emotional response, and impaired motor coordination. Read more

Major Depressive Disorder or clinical depression is a mental health disorder characterized by depressed mood and loss of interest in activities. Other symptoms of the disease include excessive crying, fatigue, excess hunger, oversleeping, suicidal thoughts, and irritability. MDD is among the most common mental disorders affecting about 7 percent of American adults aged 18 and above. MDD is caused by a combination of genetic factors, environmental factors, and psychological factors. The risk factors of the condition include chronic diseases, substance abuse, and family history.

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