It has been exactly two weeks since I began my journey as a first-year Psychiatry postgraduate resident at a teaching hospital, and I would like to reflect on my experiences in the psychiatric wards so far. I vividly remember my first day of ward rounds with my senior postgraduates, when I encountered a patient who was extremely irritable, pacing constantly and responding rudely to both her family members and the treating team. However, upon skilled intervention, he would really calm down. I was also struck by the presence of a well-equipped ward, interestingly a library with books and board games, thoughtfully arranged to help admitted patients & family remain engaged.
Over the past two weeks, I observed the wards fluctuate from being relatively quiet during the festive period to suddenly becoming crowded with multiple admissions in a single day, reinforcing how unpredictable and exciting psychiatry can be. I learned the importance of being patient, systematic, and attentive while my seniors elicited histories, as effective interviewing remains one of the psychiatrist’s most valuable tools. During ward rounds, there were extensive discussions with the faculty on child and adolescent history taking, highlighting how it differs significantly from adult case history taking.
I also had the opportunity to observe and assist in neuromodulation procedures such as M-ECT and rTMS, and I look forward to gaining hands-on experience with them. In this short span, I encountered a wide range of conditions, including BPAD, depression, OCD, borderline personality disorder, and alcohol dependence. Overall, this has been a promising and enriching start to my residency.
Dr. M Bhargav Sai
Postgraduate Resident
Department of Psychiatry
JSS Medical College and Hospital
