STRESS AND ADAPTATION IN LEARNING AND PRACTICING MEDICINE - AN ELECTIVE COURSE FOR MEDICAL-STUDENTS

In their pursuit of careers in medicine, medical trainees and practici ng physicians frequently endure significant levels of biopsychosocial distress. Psychiatry can play an important role in providing education about successful adaptation to a medical career and how to avoid dysf unctional states. The author describes a course designed to provide in struction to help medical students improve their adaptive skills. The course emphasizes preventive methods for maintaining well-being throug hout a medical career. Both didactic and experiential methods of instr uction are used to teach the class. The course targets a number of top ics considered important for adaptation and well-being, using small gr oup discussion to help students explore their ideas and experiences. B y use of a concept referred to as the ''longitudinal analogous experie nce,'' current experience is explored to provide insights that hopeful ly will lead to more effective adaptation in the future. The instructi on encourages the medical student to develop and use adaptive coping s tyles and skills to maintain an effective level of overall functioning throughout the training and practice years.