PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM

The Psychiatry Residency Training at King Saud University (KSU) is a four-year (4) structured program which was established in 1997. The key focus of the program is to train, educate and prepare the residents for careers in the field of Psychiatry. The main goals are to provide a comprehensive training in taking care of mentally ill patients and to prepare our residents for a career with sound clinical and scientific basis, and with skills for continuous acquisition of knowledge. The curriculum being offered during the training is designed to both meet the minimum requirements of Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and to provide flexibility for exploration of interests toward the resident’s individual career goals. 

MISSION

The mission of the Department of Psychiatry is to provide training for the undergraduates, postgraduates and other allied disciplines at the highest international levels of excellence.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

• To educate doctors to become competent and sensitive psychiatrists capable of providing comprehensive services to a wide spectrum of patients in diverse clinical settings.
• To produce leaders in mental health profession who have necessary vision and skill to establish and deliver basic psychiatric services in a culturally-informed manner.
• To prepare residents for future sub-specialty training.
• To train residents to be a collaborator, a health advocate and a medical professional in all aspects of residency training within four (4) years.
• To equip residents in handling research projects.

PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY TRAINING PERIOD AND ROTATION

This is a structured four-year training program in Psychiatry which is developed to provide a wide range of training in general psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, addiction psychiatry and neurology, in addition to elective rotation.

A resident must cover the following requirements:

• Six months rotation in General Psychiatry Unit. (At least once as a junior and once as a senior and can be up to 18 months fragmented rotations)
• Six months rotation in Psychosomatic Medicine Unit and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit.
• Three months rotation in outpatient psychiatry clinic.

Other rotations include:

• Nine (9) months elective that can be taken in King Khalid University Hospital or other hospitals accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
• Three (3) months of neurology.
• Three (3) months of addiction medicine.

We also train residents from ER, Family Medicine and Neurology Department as part of their rotations.

We are now accepting Omani resident trainees as per agreement between our PGME and Omani board for four (4) years training effective October 2012.

ACCREDITATION

The Psychiatry Program at King Saud University is accredited as a Residency Training Program by:

• The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties
• The Arab Board of Medical Specialties

PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY ELECTIVE PROGRAM

The Psychiatry Department offers several elective programs for King Saud University medical students, and qualified visiting medical students and residents. These electives serve as an opportunity for students and residents who wish to gain more comprehensive understanding of psychiatric care in various clinical settings. The scope of the service will depend on the length of the elective period of the student or rotating residents.

RESIDENTS INVOLVEMENT: (The residents are essential participants in all aspects of the department’s training program)   

• The Psychiatry Residency Training Program has always been very active in academic activities especially every Monday morning where there are psychiatry rounds and presentations by residents with live cases to be discussed with them and with the other staff of the department.
• Morning Report – It is conducted every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00 am in the Kardex Room. Attendance is mandatory for all the residents and fellows.
• Residents Professional Development Course – This course is held once in every month. Attendance is mandatory for all the residents and fellows.
• Residents are also included on all departmental workgroups that aim to address issues or concerns as they arise on clinical services or in the training program.
• The Residency Program Director meets at least monthly with all residents to discuss issues affecting the department and training program.

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