MIDAS Project Clinical-Research Outpatient Psychiatry - Rhode Island Hospital
Faculty Supervisor(s): Mark Zimmerman, MD, Iwona Chelminski, PhD, Kristy Dalrymple, PhD, Catherine D’Avanzato, PhD
Clinical-research focused experiences, unlike the 4 month rotations described above, are 12 month long experiences providing concentrated clinical-research training in a specialty area. Therefore, the MIDAS Project Clinical-Research track is a separate track from the Adult Clinical Track. Although applicants may apply to both tracks, residents are matched to only one of these tracks. In the 1st 8 months of training on the MIDAS Project track, time is spent as follows: 60% MIDAS Project clinical research, 10% Rhode Island Hospital Outpatient psychiatry clinical practice, 20% Rhode Island Hospital Partial Hospital Program, and 10% didactics. In the last 4 months of training, time is spent as follows: 60% MIDAS Project clinical research, 40% clinical work in the Behavioral Medicine clinical rotation. Thus, the clinical psychology resident spends the entire year in the MIDAS project.
The purpose of a clinical research-focused internship, as set forth by the Brown University Clinical Psychology Training Consortium, is to meet the goals and objectives of the Consortium while providing more concentrated clinical research training in a specialty area. The Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) Project is an ongoing study of diagnosis, assessment and outcome in routine clinical practice conducted at RI Hospital in the context of an outpatient psychiatry and a partial hospitalization program. In addition, as part of the MIDAS project we evaluate candidates for bariatric surgery with the same methods used to evaluate psychiatric outpatients. The Outpatient Psychiatry Practice at RIH treats patients with a variety of problems, including mood and anxiety disorders, using evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. After the clinical psychology resident is trained in doing diagnostic evaluations, they conduct 2-3 evaluations per week through the year.
The RIH Partial Hospital Program in Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Therapies provides intensive, short-term treatment for individuals with acute psychiatric concerns. Patients at the partial hospital program receive group psychotherapy, individual psychotherapy, and individual pharmacotherapy on a daily basis; psychotherapy is delivered from an acceptance-based theoretical model, using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and other consistent therapeutic approaches (e.g., DBT, CBT). In addition to receiving research training, residents will be provided with clinical training at both the outpatient and partial hospital programs.
Clinical psychology residents in the MIDAS Track will receive additional clinical training as part of the third rotation in Behavioral Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and/or Miriam Hospital. This third rotation may include experiences such as working in the Sleep Program, the Obesity and Bariatric Surgery Psychology Program, the Miriam Hospital Consultation and Liaison Service, or other behavioral medicine programs. The Sleep Program is connected with The Sleep Disorders Center of Lifespan Hospitals. This program is an interdisciplinary service designed to diagnose and treat a wide range of primary and secondary sleep disorders. The Obesity and Bariatric Surgery Psychology Program provides assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients seeking weight management and bariatric surgery services, as well as patients with a variety of disordered eating patterns and psychiatric conditions related to disordered eating. The Bariatric Surgery Program is multi-disciplinary, and includes psychiatry, psychology, surgery, nutrition, and nursing providers. Treatments include tailored group behavioral interventions, pre and post surgical group adherence interventions, individual therapy, and psychotropic medications. The Consultation and Liaison Service at Miriam Hospital is a multi-disciplinary service that includes psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, psychiatric nurse clinicians, psychiatric social workers, and psychiatry residents. Services on this rotation include brief assessment and treatment of common psychiatric and behavioral problems associated with medical problems such as traumatic brain injury, seizure and stroke, and other medical illnesses.