During this psychiatry posting, I had the opportunity to gain exposure to both outpatient and inpatient psychiatric services. I actively observed and participated along with residents in psychiatric history taking and Mental Status Examination (MSE), which helped me understand the systematic clinical approach to patients with mental illnesses.
I learned about the diagnosis and management of common psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, substance use disorders, and somatoform disorders. I also gained knowledge about the indications, mechanisms of action, and side effects of commonly used psychotropic medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, and anxiolytics.
This posting made me realise that psychiatry is a very interesting and dynamic branch, and it drastically changed my opinion toward psychiatry. Observing patients closely helped me understand the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment. One particular experience that impacted me was seeing a female patient who, a few days earlier, was not able to recognise her husband, but within 7 days of appropriate treatment, she was able to recognise him and show significant clinical improvement. This experience helped me appreciate how timely medication and proper management can dramatically improve patient outcomes.
Ward rounds and patient follow-ups further emphasised the importance of psychosocial interventions, counselling, and family involvement, along with pharmacological treatment. This posting also helped me improve my communication skills, empathy, and attitude toward patients with psychiatric illnesses.
Overall, this psychiatry posting was a highly valuable learning experience and has motivated me to seriously consider psychiatry as a possible career option in the future.
Sneha Gupta
MBBS Intern
MGM Medical College, Indore
