A Doctorate in Medicine (DM) with a specialization in Addiction Psychiatry is an advanced medical degree program designed for physicians who want to specialize in the field of addiction psychiatry. Addiction psychiatry focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions
Here are some common components and areas of focus in a DM program in Addiction Psychiatry:
Substance Use Disorders (SUDs): In-depth study of various substances of abuse, including alcohol, drugs, and prescription medications.
Psychopharmacology: Understanding the pharmacological aspects of medications used in the treatment of addiction and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
Assessment and Diagnosis: Training in the comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of individuals with substance use disorders, considering both psychiatric
and medical aspects.
Individual and Group Psychotherapy: Techniques for providing psychotherapeutic interventions for individuals and groups with addiction-related concerns.
Dual Diagnosis (Co-Occurring Disorders): Managing individuals with both substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions.
Pharmacotherapy for Addiction Treatment: Understanding and prescribing medications used in the treatment of substance use disorders, such as opioid agonists, antagonists, and medications for alcohol use disorder.
Motivational Interviewing: Communication techniques to enhance motivation and facilitate behavior change in individuals with substance use disorders.
Prevention and Harm Reduction: Strategies for preventing substance use disorders and minimizing harm associated with substance use.
Research and Evidence-Based Practices: Integration of research findings and evidence-based practices in addiction psychiatry.
Counseling and Support Services: Collaboration with counselors, social workers, and support services to provide holistic care for individuals with addiction.
Ethics and Legal Aspects: Understanding ethical considerations and legal obligations related to addiction psychiatry practice.
A DM program in Addiction Psychiatry typically involves both didactic coursework and clinical training. Completion of such a program prepares physicians to work in various settings, including addiction treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals, and private practices.
It's important to note that the structure and content of DM programs can vary among institutions, so prospective students should review specific program details from the educational institution offering the program. Additionally, individuals pursuing this specialization may engage in ongoing professional development, research, and training to stay abreast of advances in the field of addiction psychiatry
DM - Addiction Psychiatry
AIIMS, Rishikesh is an institute which strives to provide excellent tertiary patient care, world class medical education and groundbreaking research. Institute aims to mentor students and train so that they represent institute globally as pioneers, to serve as effective deliverers of patient care in society.AIIMS, Rishikesh functions as a “Vishwavidyalaya”, which implies, “Learn from world and also teach world”. Eighty-four visiting professors from all over world reinforce this message.
Head, Department of Pediatrics and Chief, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh. This is a 300 bedded facility providing highly specialized care to children. Apart from MD Pediatrics, we run 9 postdoctoral DM Programmes and 4 Fellowships in various super specialties of Pediatrics - the largest number of academic programmes in any department in India. Of these, 4 DM Programmes and the 4 Fellowships were initiated after I took over Chair of the department in October 2016.