American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Faculty Innovation in Education Award: Development of a Web-based Course on Primary Care Skills for Psychiatry Residents: Strategies to Manage Cardio-metabolic Side Effects of Antipsychotic Medications

Serious mental illness (SMI) is associated with increased mortality and a shortened lifespan. This is due in part to a greater metabolic disease burden, elevated cardiovascular disease rates, maladaptive health behaviors and health system factors including inadequate basic health care in this population. As a result, psychiatrists have been called to play a greater role in the physical health of their patients. Residency training is an ideal moment to reinforce competence and confidence in basic primary care skills. This proposal aims to develop a web-based video course teaching basic primary care skills to general psychiatry residents, with a focus on management of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Innovative approaches include (a) use of a case-based curriculum, (b) teaching faculty with expertise in addressing medical illness in mentally ill populations and (c) leveraging of research funding and technology resources at two institutions (Northwestern University and University of California- Irvine) to support an outcomes-based research plan.