General Information

The Specialization in Psychiatry of the Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira is a clinical postgraduate program aimed at general practitioners and non-psychiatrists specialists not that look for an overall education in psychiatry with training in the biological, psychological and social issues which affect health and mental illness.

The program has lasts 3 years in which the student receives direct and personal teaching with rotations in institutions of first, second and third level health care and specialized in psychiatry, besides the community practices.

The graduate is able to get involved in the process of mental health - illness, solve the psychiatric problems of children, adolescents, adults and seniors and research to generate new knowledge.

Mission

The Specialization in Psychiatry of the Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira educates professionals with a biopsychosocial approach and develops the scientific knowledge in the area of ??mental health for the benefit of people and communities.

Vision

Be an academic program of excellence recognized for its achievements in mental health education and psychiatry at a national and international level.

Objectives

General Objectives

• To train ethical professionals with a high social sense, competent in the care, educational, administrative and research functions inherent to the specialty of psychiatry, according to national needs and international trends.

• To train professionals with scientific knowledge and enough skills to deal with the problems and diseases of Mental Health, contributing to its development. 

Specific Objectives

Through his training, the psychiatry resident acquires knowledge, skills and abilities to:

• Establish actions towards health promotion and prevention of psychiatric and medical disorders that are related to psychiatric practice.
• Integrate in his/her practice the biological, psychological and social-cultural factors in order to understand the mental disorders.
• Conduct the evaluation and appropriate psychiatric history as a diagnostic method by formulating an etiopathogenic hypothesis at all stages of the life cycle of the patients.
• Perform and record diagnoses according to existing classifications in the workplace.
• Understand the principles that underlie the various treatment strategies used in the field of psychiatry.
• Identify the therapeutic possibilities, analyze priorities and design comprehensive treatments duly justified, according to the needs and available resources.
• Implement timely therapeutic interventions for each case.
• Evaluate scientifically the response to different therapies.
• Identify and use the resources of the patient as a therapeutic tool.
• To acquire the knowledge and skills of the fundamental aspects of Liaison Psychiatry.
• Work in teams with other health professionals, both in clinical environments as well as in the community.
• Analyze the medical literature with the strategy of evidence-based medicine.
• Critically evaluate the limitations and progress of knowledge.
• Manage key elements of the methodology of scientific work and research.
• Prepare, design, develop, present and publish research projects related to psychiatry.
• Understand the current regulations and ethical aspects of psychiatric practice.
• Identify the characteristics, needs and resources of the country in the area of ??mental health.
• To acquire the basic knowledge to design, plan and implement health programs and manage them adequately.
• Analyze and apply basic concepts and methods of psychiatric epidemiology.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude for transmitting and receiving information.
• Establish harmonious, respectful and clear communications to patients, families, community, students and other professionals.
• Identify professional characteristics necessary to enable the psychiatrist to develop properly and efficiently the work of the specialty.
• Recognize own abilities and limitations.
• Acquire basic knowledge of ethnopsychiatry and transcultural psychiatry.
• To acquire the skills necessary to function in the area of ??forensic psychiatry in the context of adversarial criminal justice system.

Profile

Professional and Occupational Profile

The specialist in psychiatry of the Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira is a professional who is able to respond to the needs of mental health and disease processes of the population and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this specific field.

At a Caring Level

Able to design and implement strategies and programs to promote mental health and prevent psychiatric illness, and to determine the epidemiological profile of a community.

Competent to diagnose and implement timely, efficient and ethical psychiatric therapy most appropriate for each case and implement strategies for the reintegration of patients to their family, community and work with the participation of related disciplines and the creation of interdisciplinary teams.

In general practice, handles normal and abnormal psychoemotional responses related to organic pathologies with the fundamentals of liaison psychiatry. He/she is an expert in the management of psychiatric emergencies and of normal and abnormal psycho-emotional aspects generated in the different phases of disasters.

Is able to give appropriate and timely primary, secondary and tertiary care and refer patients requiring a higher level, following the rules of referral.

At the Administrative Level

The specialist in psychiatry has basic knowledge of the laws governing the health system, the medical practice and the specialty, the rules governing the scope of care for patients and teaching assistance agreements.

The psychiatrist is able to structure the development of a mental health unit based on levels of complexity, given the current legal framework regarding aspects of location, technology, human resource structure, development of management guidelines, strategic work plans based on institutional needs and quality assurance. He/she can also design and lead the development of services and mental health programs in general and mental health care for individuals and groups to lessen the impact of mental disorders.

At a Teaching Level

The specialist is able to lead educational programs in villages, to teach undergraduate and postgraduate health science students with an emphasis on mental health and psychiatry, and to conduct continuing education processes with non-psychiatric physicians, while being able to:

• Conduct educational activities during the performance of the medical practice.
• Educate and motivate the community on health issues.
• Design, develop and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention in the community, according to the particular characteristics of each community and its environment.
• Design, develop and evaluate training programs for medical and paramedical staff.
• Participate in training of undergraduate students and postgraduate students in the areas of health.

In the Research field

The specialist has basic knowledge on research methodology, clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine. He/she is able to:

• Design or participate in research in basic, social, clinical and epidemiological areas.
• Disseminate research results to the scientific community and society.
• Use the results of research to generate and promote scientific and technological development, proposing alternative solutions to community problems.