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Second-Year Medicine

Block 8: Nervous System & Psychopathology

The MS2 Nervous System and Psychopathology Block builds on the MS1 Neuroscience Block. In the MS1 year, the normal anatomy and physiology of the nervous system is mastered. This information is now applied to pathological states as we introduce in this MS2 block the disorders affecting the nervous system and resulting in neurological and psychiatric dysfunction. An integrative approach to neural and behavioral disorders is used, emphasizing underlying pathophysiology and and available therapies. Hence, pathology, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, neurology, psychiatry, neurosurgery, microbiology and internal medicine are all interwoven to all students to understand the clinical relevance of the basic neural and behavioral science taught in year 1.

Topic Outline

  1. Introduction to the Nervous System & Psychopathology
    1. The Neurological Examination
    2. The Mental Status Examination
    3. Psychiatric diagnostic classification: DSM IV
    4. Review of Neuroanatomy
    5. Introduction to neuropathology
  2. The Nervous System as part of General Medical Science
    1. Cerebrovascular disease + stroke conference
    2. Bacterial Meningitis + microbiology lab
    3. Viruses & Prions
    4. Pathology of CNS infections
  3. Persistent or Progressive Neurological and Behavioral Disorders
    1. Personality disorders
    2. CNS Tumors
    3. CNS Trauma + conference
    4. Movement disorders & therapy + Parkinsons conference
    5. Dementia + conference
    6. Geriatric psychiatry
    7. Schizophrenia & other psychotic disorders and antipsychotic drugs + conference
    8. Neuromuscular disorders conference
    9. Neuropathology labs
  4. Intermittent Neural or Behavioral Dysfunction
    1. Sleep disorders
    2. Mood disorders and antidepressant drugs + conference
    3. Somatoform disorders
    4. General and local anesthesia + conference
    5. Epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs + conference
    6. Anxiety disorders and anxiolytic drugs + conference
    7. Pharmacology of addictive agents
    8. Addictive disorders
    9. Demyelinating disease conference
    10. Pain conference
  5. Pediatric Disorders
    1. Child psychiatry
    2. Congenital malformations of the CNS
    3. Neuropathology of toxic, metabolic, and genetic disorders
  6. Other
    1. Toxicology
    2. Adverse drug reactions
    3. Forensic pathology
    4. Neurology case studies
    5. Case-Based Learning
    6. ECM2: Neuroradiology
    7. ECM2: Neurology preceptorship