Residents are required to engage in scholarly activity throughout the four years of training. The core of scholarship is the learning of critical thinking, evaluation of basic science and clinical research, and the development of a scholarly project by the middle of the PGY-4 year. Some examples of scholarship are research studies, review articles, case studies, theoretical writing, development of curricula and teaching materials. Residents are encouraged to participate in regional and national academic meetings.
The Department of Psychiatry values research as the foundation for improving the quality of clinical care. Research is essential for determining the efficacy of methods of care and for disseminating these methods to the larger professional community. The Department has developed a center for research initiatives in clinical psychiatry, including health services, clinical trials, quality improvement, and multicultural research.
Residents are encouraged to join in ongoing research in any of these areas or to develop their own projects. Residents may choose to pursue research intensively in their final year of training. Examples of our Residents' research projects include mindful meditation group therapy for psychosomatic disorders, acupuncture for anxiety, family interventions in early onset schizophrenia, mother-infant attachment studies, forensic research at the Maudsley Hospital in London, neuroimaging in patients with addictions, clinical drug trials, and a NIH funded naturalistic study of treatment outcomes in patients with bipolar disorder. Residents have also participated in studies of the treatment of obesity, metabolic effects of antipsychotic medications, and outcome studies for the treatment of victims of violence. Residents receive a yearly educational stipend to help defray the cost of attending conferences and other educational activities.
The Center for Mindfulness Based Treatment
Cambridge Health Alliance has a growing Center for Mindfullness Based Treatment that will include clinical, research and training components. Co-directed by Faculty and Trainees, the Center currently provides Mindfulness Training for patients and staff, and hosts regular sessions open to the CHA community and patients. Projects under way include researching the effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Treatments for symptom management and stress reduction. Residents in Psychiatry have developed a curriculum on MBT that has been incorporated into the didactic schedule and part of the Resident Retreats held during the year.