Focused opportunities for resident education on today's inpatient psychiatric units

The functions and nature of inpatient psychiatric units have changed dramatically over recent decades, as has the role of psychiatric residents on these units. Nonetheless, clinical rotations on inpatient psychiatry remain as core clinical experiences in psychiatric residency. This column reviews the key changes in the residents' inpatient experience and articulates appropriate educational goals for current inpatient rotations in the areas of the psychiatric interview, diagnosis and formulation, treatment planning, working as a member of a multidisciplinary team, and working with acutely ill and involuntary patients.