Developing an instrument to assess the health-related quality of life of methamphetamine users

Course No.:  PSYC 701E
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  4
Term:  Any
Prereq:
Contact:  Betson McFarland (503-245-6550)

Site is Behavioral Health Clinic (downtown Portland) and Oregon Health & Science University.

A better understanding of the health-related quality of life associated with methamphetamine use and how it changes over time (including use, withdrawal, relapse, and prolonged abstinence) will permit physicians, researchers and patients themselves to monitor the recovery process and to match treatment to the preferences and current status of patients. In a highly collaborative project, David Feeny, Ph.D. (economics), Suzanne Mitchell, Ph.D. (behavioral neuroscience), and I have been developing such a multi-attribute classification system to assess health-related quality of life for methamphetamine users. Students will be actively involved in examining the validity of the classification system by interviewing current users, users in various stages of recovery, and family members. The elective will provide hands-on research experience and an opportunity to collaborate with an innovative multi-disciplinary team of accomplished investigators working in an important emerging area of inquiry. The elective will also provide valuable exposure to design of investigations, protection of human subjects, data collection, data analysis, and scientific writing for publication.

Rehabilitation Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 701A
Duration:  TBA
Credits:  TBA
Term:  Any
Prereq:  None
Contact:  Dr. Norwood Knight-Richardson, 4-6566

Students have the opportunity in this elective to plan a time-limited project or to be a part of a longitudinal project determining the effectiveness of community treatment, social and vocational adaptation, and quality of life of chronic mental patients living in the community.

Research in Epidemiologic Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 701B
Duration:  6-12 weeks
Credits:  TBA
Term:  Any
Prereq:  None
Contact:  Dr. B McFarland, 503-245-6550

In this elective, students conduct a research project in epidemiologic psychiatry. Possibilities include studying psychotropic medications’ risks and benefits using an automated pharmacy system at Kaiser Permanente or determining cost-effectiveness of community mental health programs at the Oregon Mental Health & Development Disabilities Services Division in Salem.

Pharmacoepidemiology of Psychotropic Drugs

Course No.:  PSYC 701C
Duration:  12 weeks
Credits:  3
Term:  Any
Prereq:  None
Contact:  Dr. B McFarland, 503-245-6550

This course introduces students to research in pharmacoepidemiology with emphasis on the risks and benefits of psychotropic drugs. Students are asked to participate in using the automated data bases maintained by the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan.

The Ins and Outs of Neurotransmitter Transporter Function

Course No.:  PSYC 701D
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  4
Term:  Any
Prereq:
Contact:  Aaron Janowksky, 095-57912

Flexible hours. Site is the Portland VA Medical Center. The dopamine transporter on the neuronal membrane is the primary site of action for the metabolism of dopamine. Cocaine binds to the transporter and blocks the uptake and metabolism of dopamine, while methamphetamine acts as a substrate at the transporter, displacing dopamine and causing its release from intracellular stores. Students will use immortalized human cells expressing DNA for the cloned human neurotransmitter transporters to characterize the actions of potential pharmacotherapies for drug abuse. They will examine the ability of a drug to block the binding of abused substances to the transporter, the ability of a potential pharmacotherapy to maintain normal transporter function, and their ability to block the neurotransmitter-releasing properties of methamphetamine and related compounds.

Genetic Investigations of Methamphetamine Abuse

Course No.:  PSYC 701F
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  4 credits
Term:  Any
Prereq:
Contact:  Dr. Tamara Phillips, 095-56674

Psychostimulant drugs like methamphetamines are addictive, and addicts have a high chance of relapsing even after prolonged periods of abstinence.  Contributing to this, we think, are behavioral and neurochemical changes that evolve when methamphetamine exposure becomes chronic, that change how an addict responds to methamphetamine after a period of abstinence.  Residents will contribute to behavioral and molecular genetic research designed to identify genes that are regulated in the brain by methamphetamine in ways to determine increased risk for problem methamphetamine use and increased neuroadaptation to methamphetamine.  In conjunction with other research going on in the MARC, important gene complexes and brain circuits will be identified that influence methamphetamine addiction and relapse.

Pharmacology of Peptidergic Neurons

Course No.:  PSYC 701G
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  4
Term:  Any
Prereq:
Contact:  Dr. Andrey Ryabinin, 4-2060

Urocortin is a peptide related to the corticotropin  releasing factor (CRF), involved in regulation of alcohol and drug self-administration.  The primary site of urocortin expression in the brain is the non-preganglionic Edinger-Westphaul nucleus (npEW).  Students will study pharmacological mechanisms involved in regulation of activity of npEW in rodents.  They will evaluate the ability of dopamine and serotonin antagonist to attenuate drug-induced expression of genes in this brain region using immunohistochemistry and/or real-time PCR.

Translational Pharmacology in Recovery from Methamphetamine Abuse

Course No.:  PSYC 701H
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  4
Term:  Any
Prereq: 
Contact:  Dr. Paul Berger or Elizabeth Brudney (4-2340)

Working in Dr. Berger’s Translational Pharmacology lab will give you the opportunity to learn about many aspects of both clinical and preclinical research. For instance, you will administer study instruments in a clinical setting and learn the “ins and outs” of regulatory documents and procedures. At the same time, you will learn to work with animal models of psychiatric disorders and learn molecular biology techniques. We allow you to shape your experience to best suit your interests. Because we are a translational pharmacology lab, we are always testing clinically available agents and herbal agents for efficacy in various animal models of psychiatric disorders. If proven effective in an animal model, these agents are then carefully evaluated in the corresponding clinical population. You are welcome to be involved with as many aspects of the lab as you choose and time permits. Dr. Berger always enjoys listening to new investigational ideas and welcomes those who have a passion for research.

Dr. Berger’s component of the Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center involves administering carvedilol, a clinically available broad-spectrum alpha and beta adrenergic antagonist with potent antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, over an eight-week period to patients experiencing methamphetamine withdrawal. We hypothesize that carvedilol will improve treatment retention and aversive symptoms of withdrawal. Students who are interested will be trained to administer the corresponding study instruments and behavioral tasks (the delayed discounting task). Additionally, students will assist with screening patients to ensure they meet the study’s inclusion criteria. If you join this lab, you will have the opportunity to be part of research that aims to reduce the meth epidemic and find pharmacotherapies for psychiatric disorders.

Functional MRI

Course No.:  PSYC 701I
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  4
Term:  Any
Prereq: 
Contact:  Dr. Bill Hoffman (4-2340)

This elective has two forms, one for students who want to better understand the process of doing research with fMRI and another for students who are interested in pursuing an academic research career in neuroimaging.  The general format of the elective is similar in both tracks, but the academic research approach would be more intensive and require more attention to the mathematical and physical underpinnings of the technique than the educational track.

 

If you elect to work with me you will:

 

1. Learn the basic principles of how MRI images are formed.

2. Learn to run current protocols on the MRI scanner.

3. Assist with the psychiatric evaluation of subjects entering fMRI protocols.

4. Learn to analyze fMRI data using one of the common software packages.

5. Develop a working understanding of the statistical methods and problems that are specific to fMRI.

 

Depending on your interests and goals, you could also:

 

1. Review the literature about a topic of interest that involves neuroimaging and help write a review article (this is harder than it sounds).

2. Participate in an individualized project that is an offshoot of one of my funded projects and help write a paper when it is complete.

3. Take a course in fMRI (there are several offered, although the MGH course is very highly thought of).

4. Pursue directed reading in more advanced math and physics that are necessary underpinnings to doing independent research in psychiatric neuroimaging.

 

You will complete as many basic tasks as can be accomplished in a one-month elective.  More ambitious projects might be more time consuming, so if you are interested in this option, talk to me as soon as possible so that you can get a head start on the administrative requirements to do research at the VA and OHSU.

Administrative Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 705E
Duration:  4-6 weeks
Credits:  TBA
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Dr. David Pollack, 4-6566

Students are involved in administration or in a research project at the Division of Mental Health. They spend two days/week at the office of Mental Health Services in Salem, in addition to taking four hours of seminars at OHSU.

Neurobiology of Depression

Course No.:  PSYC 707A
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  TBA
Term:  Winter
Prereq:  None
Contact:  Dr. Alfred Lewy, 4-7746

This course is offered on a part-time basis only.

Community Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 707B
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Drs. Norwood Knight-Richardson & Neil Falk, 4-6566

Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of ongoing seminars and community training experiences through the Community Psychiatry Training Program. The seminars include an introduction to community mental health, patterns of mental illness, the nature of mental health delivery systems, mental health consultation, drug and alcohol treatment programs, and issues of law and psychiatry. This elective may be arranged as a part-time seminar experience or a full-time rotation involving seminars, assigned readings, and placement in a community mental health center. Students must contact department at least 2 weeks prior to beginning this elective. Dr. Falk can be reached via email: falkn@cascadiabhc.org. The Public Psychiatry Training Program staff will provide supervision.

Geropsychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 709B
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Dr. Kevin Smith, 8-5320

This elective consists of outpatient geriatric clinic, nursing home consultation, selected readings, attendance at journal club and case conference, and involvement in electroconvulsive therapy.

Inpatient Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 709C
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Dr. William Wilson, 4-7514

This elective is designed for those students who, having already completed their psychiatric clerkship, wish to gain further clinical experience. Experience includes a program of guided reading, patient interviewing, and patient follow-up for treatment.

Consultation Liaison Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 709D
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Dr. Robert Maricle, 4-6573

Students see patients and make clinical rounds daily with the Psychiatric Consult Service at OHSU.

Consultation Liaison Psychiatry

Course No.:  PSYC 709E
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  IMED 720, PSYC 720
Contact:  Drs. Misra and Ganzini, 503-220-8262 x56492 or x51177

Students see patients and make clinical rounds daily with the Psychiatric Consult Service at the VAMC.

Intercultural Psychiatric Program

Course No.:  PSYC 709K
Duration:  4 weeks, full time or part time
Credits:  TBA
Term:  Any
Prereq:  None
Contact:  Drs. Leung, D. Kinzie, Boehnlein, M. Kinzie, Hipshman, Cull, Cheng & Passmore, 4-6653

Students observe and participate in patient care, treatment, socialization center activities, and faculty research with refugee and immigrant patients.

Sleep Disorders Medicine

Course No.:  PSYC 709M
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  TBA
Term:  Any
Prereq:  None
Contact:  Dr. Jon Emens, 4-4041

Students sit in on interviews with patients presenting sleep complaints and review sleep recordings from sleep lab. Reading and conferences are offered on relevant topics.

Sub-Internship - Acute Psychiatry - VAMC

Course No.:  PSYC 709P
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Dr. Erik Messamore, 503-220-8262 x57087

Students are assigned to a VA inpatient treatment team. The student is the primary contact with the patients on their team, with the second year resident and attending providing supervision on a wide range of patients encountered in acute inpatient psychiatry.

Psychiatry Special Elective

Course No.:  PSYC 709X
Duration:  4 weeks
Credits:  6
Term:  Any
Prereq:  PSYC 720
Contact:  Dr. James Boehnlein, 4-6653

Students may make special arrangements with the department for individual programs of study.

Psychiatry/Away

Course No.:  PSYC 709Z
Duration: 
Credits:
Term:
Prereq:
Contact:  Kim Taylor, 4-1114

Medical students are responsible for making their own arrangements for an away rotation, including receiving the department’s review and approval prior to leaving for the rotation. The student must submit approval forms to Education and Student Affairs Office and contact, Kim Taylor (503-494-1114), Medical Student Education Coordinator, prior to leaving for rotation.