Course Details

1. Describe, address and deal with mental health problems
2. Describe the interpersonal skills required to achieve effective cooperation and communication with the support team
3. Describe the necessary techniques required in order to work in a multidisciplinary team responding to the needs of patients, to participate in individualized programs of care, working in collaboration with the patient, their care givers and their families
4. State the assistance needed for a patient to maintain his dignity and to act with confidentiality
5. List the appropriate counseling skills
6. Identify the emotional support, the specific counseling and the interventions needed for a patient

Introduction to the science of Psychiatry: The milestones in the history of Psychiatry. Definitions and principles of psychiatry. Elements and techniques of therapeutic communication. Basic principles of making clinical interview.

Anxiety disorders: The nature and the types of anxiety disorders. Symptoms, differential diagnosis and treatment

Psychotic disorders: Clinical description of schizophrenic psychosis. Epidemiology, pathogenesis and types. Therapeutic approaches, psychotropic drugs and side effects. Psychosocial intervention, psychotherapy

Affective disorders: Characteristics of bipolar disorder and depression. Therapeutic interventions. Types of depression

Organic brain syndrome and psychoses: Causes and symptoms. Organic brain syndrome from toxic substances abuse

Personality disorders: Types, characteristics and therapeutic approaches. Community Psychiatry-Units of outpatient care: Community psychiatric services. The Center for Mental Health. Social support systems. Mentally ill patients rehabilitation

• G. Christodoulou, Psychiatry, Beta Medical Publications, Athens 2000

• Benjamin J. Sadock, Virginia Alcott Sadock, Pedro Ruiz. Comprehensive Textbook Of Psychiatry (2 Volume set), ninth edition, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

The course is delivered to the students by means of lectures, conducted with the help of computer-based presentations. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the textbooks.