Purpose: To pilot an advanced elective in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) for medical students.
Background: Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders commonly occur and their treatment requires specific training. Medical students could benefit from increased exposure to these topics than is currently provided by didactic education and clinical clerkships.
Methods: A month-long clinical elective was developed to provide medical students with (1) a strong fund of knowledge about prevalence, clinical recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of PMADs and (2) a foundational experience in delivering psychoeducation and interpersonal therapy in the perinatal period. Students complete (1) the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (a free online, interactive curriculum designed to teach reproductive psychiatry to mental health professionals) and (2) a three-part training program to independently deliver the “ROSE” program (Reach Out, Stand Strong, Essentials for Mothers and Newborns - a psychoeducational program that reduces risk for postpartum depression).
Results: The elective was piloted in July, 2021 by a third-year medical student. After completion, the student demonstrated a strong fund of knowledge of PMADs and independently delivered the ROSE program.
Discussions: This elective is a unique opportunity for medical students to increase their knowledge of PMADs, understand scientific principles underlying approaches to their diagnosis and treatment, and advance skills in building empathic relationships, effective communication, and developing collaborative partnerships with patients at different stages of pregnancy. This elective can help increase exposure to and foster interest in perinatal mental health which is a growing, but currently underrepresented, field of medicine.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2022, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, UME, Lecture, Independent Study,
Amanda Rubano, BA, University of Rochester Medical Center; Ellen Poleshuck, PhD; Marika Toscano, MD
