Mental health skills for physician associates: Basic & advanced eLearning

Module 1

Psychiatric history

• Outline the purpose and structure of the psychiatric history
• Use communication techniques to engage patients in providing their psychiatric histories
• Accurately and effectively document a psychiatric history in the patient record

Module 2

Mental state examination

• Understanding the principles of the mental state examination (MSE) and the phenomenological approach
• Knowing the overall structure and components of the MSE
• Describing psychiatric phenomenology using appropriate language
• Documenting the mental state examination

Module 3

Risk assessment and management

• Define the sorts of risks faced by people with mental illness
• Understand the dynamic and static risk factors that inform risk assessments
• Recognise a patient’s protective factors
• Formulate risk using the “four P” model
• Create effective risk management and safety plans

Module 4

De-escalation and distress management

• Identify early warning signs of escalation of anxiety/distress or anger
• Use simple techniques to assist someone who is acutely distressed or anxious
• Verbally de-escalate a distressed or agitated person
• Apply strategies to prevent and reduce risk of aggression and violence ·
• Maintain your personal safety

Module 5

Diagnosis and formulation

• Recall the broad categories of psychiatric illness
• Define the most common psychiatric illnesses and their diagnostic criteria
• Suggest differential diagnoses for patients following history and examination
• Explain the principles of psychiatric formulation
• Write a biopsychosocial formulation
• Recommend relevant investigations for common psychiatric presentations.

Module 6

Psychopharmacology

• Know the common categories and broad mechanisms of action of psychotropic medications
• Know the indications for common psychotropic medications
• Identify potential risks and adverse effects associated with common psychotropic medications
• Recommend investigations for monitoring of safety and efficacy of psychotropic medications

Module 7

Physical health

• Appreciate the association between physical health and serious mental illness
• Identify physical health complications of common psychotropic medications
• Suggest appropriate physical health investigations for people with mental illness

Module 8

Mental health law

• Know the principles of the Mental Health Act
• Identify when and how the MHA applies to common clinical situations
• Know the principles of the Mental Capacity Act
• Identify when and how the MCA applies to common clinical situations
• Perform a competent assessment of decisional capacity