Page 47 - 2017-2018 Department of Psychiatry Annual Report

Master’s in Psychiatry Research

Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Sherry Stewart

The development of this program taught by Dr. Sean MacKinnon. Next
generated two core courses taught year, each student will complete an
for the first time by Department of independent master’s thesis research
Psychiatry faculty and coordinated by project under the supervision of one
Dr. Kim Good and Dr. Sherry Stewart. of our faculty. The program aims to
educate both clinicians and non-
Core Perspectives on clinicians in the scientific bases of
Psychiatric Disorders mental disorders and their treatment.
The program does not aim to provide
The purpose of this course is to clinical training, but aims to develop
take a biopsychosocial approach highly skilled psychiatric researchers
to understanding neuropsychiatric and clinician scientists who are
and psychiatric disorders, with well versed in the fundamentals of
an emphasis on the biological psychiatry and mental health research.
mechanisms underlying these
disorders. Current Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM 5) classifications are covered as This two year graduate
well as major theories of etiology. The
course also includes an overview of
treatments for each disorder as well as program is designed to
the evidence on empirically supported
some pertinent and timely information
on cross cultural and early intervention
approaches. equip students with the

Fundamentals of Psychiatry
Research skills and knowledge
This course covers aspects of
psychiatric research methods and
research methodology and design that needed to succeed as
design. It touches on aspects of

are common to most forms of medical
research, but focuses on those that
are specific to research on psychiatry professionals in clinical
and mental disorders. The format of
each class involves a combination
student-led presentations. Students and neuroscience
of faculty didactic lectures and
complete the course by presenting on
methodological and design elements
of their thesis research to the class. research concerning

In the core courses, students improve
design, statistics, data analysis, and mental health and
their skills in critical appraisal, study
scientific writing. Students are also
required to take a graduate level
statistics course which this year, was illness.
offered through the Department of
Psychology and Neuroscience and

Annual Report 2017 | 2018 47