MDCS40390

Students attend the weekly psychiatric case conference in St. Vincent’s University Hospital where the presenting psychiatrist presents for education and discussion a case of a patient attending the Hospital services. On occasion it is appropriate for the psychiatrist to conduct an interview with a patient in the presence of the multi-disciplinary group of mental health professionals. The presentation/interview and the related differential diagnosis educates those attending, including the MSc students about psychiatric practice. A psychoanalytic perspective is also contributed to the meeting. A seminar immediately following the case conference for the MSc students develops the psychoanalytic perspective and promotes in the students respect for ways in which psychoanalysis and psychiatry can work alongside each other for the benefit of both and, crucially, for the patients attending with mental distress.

In addition the seminar reads key material from the teaching and writing of Jacques Lacan in order to identify what is distinctive about psychoanalytic practice. Students will benefit from this encounter between the psychiatric and psychoanalytic positions and develop an appreciation of the potential for collaboration between these different practices.

This is a must-pass module for the programme. In other words, a student cannot complete the MSc without passing this module regardless of grades across all other modules.