Official government website of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia How to verify

Links to official Saudi educational websites end with edu.sa

All links to official educational websites of government agencies in Saudi Arabia end with .edu.sa.

protocol for encryption and security. HTTPS for encryption and security.

Secure websites in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia use the HTTPS protocol for encryption.

Registered with the Digital Government Authority with no: 20250413538

Colleges

Section list

Psychiatry

Course Description: This course covers psychiatry and mental health, built around general and specific behavioral objectives. It integrates basic sciences, psychological studies and experiments, with clinical sciences and the skills required for diagnosis and management. The content addresses definitions of terms specific to the subject, largely derived from psychological studies, internationally recognized classifications of mental disorders, and the integration required among all disciplines when addressing a specific patient's problem, followed by the benefits and leadership for the general health team. Given that the importance of diseases varies for the general practitioner in terms of their theoretical and practical content, the focus is on psychosomatic disorders, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, sexual disorders, and addiction.

Credit hours: 4

Objectives of the course :

1. Use standard classification and terminology known in the field of mental health care.
2. Appreciating the comprehensiveness of care and the biopsychosocial approach in psychiatry, where behavior and physical illnesses are closely linked to underlying psychological abnormalities.
3. Utilize his/her knowledge of family and community to understand mental illnesses, and use family ties and community helpers in treatment and rehabilitation.
4. Research the epidemiology and burden of mental illness in their hometown, and the factors contributing to increased or decreased trends.
5. Obtain an appropriate medical history, perform a comprehensive mental status examination, focusing on the clinical presentation, elicit physical signs, and order investigative studies to arrive at a suitable diagnosis of the mental condition, being aware of the implications of misdiagnosis or under- or over-estimating the patient's mental risk to the community, while simultaneously considering the consequences of his misdiagnosis on the individual and the family.
6. Assessing the role of the health team in mental health, where non-medical staff participate and often assume leadership responsibilities.

Course outputs :

1. Identify different types of mental illnesses and describe their mechanisms of occurrence and clinical manifestations.
2. Describe the principles of managing common and severe psychiatric conditions.
3. Perform a safe, thorough, and comprehensive physical examination relevant to common psychiatric conditions to identify signs of illness.
4. Safely using appropriate diagnostic and treatment procedures for psychiatric conditions.
5. Integrate data obtained from patient interviews with medical knowledge to develop an evidence-based management plan for psychological conditions, including appropriate assessments, treatment modalities, and preventive measures.
Demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking and creativity in dealing with emerging psychological conditions.
7. Effectively communicate with patients, considering behavioral, social, and cultural contexts, to take medical histories, explain diagnoses, management plans, and provide health education.
8. Demonstrate the ability to use information and communication technologies for evidence-based learning and practice in psychiatry.
9. Demonstrate the ability to establish an effective, ethical, and professional relationship with patients, their families, and the healthcare team.

Additional information:

Last updated: 2026-06-02