A Curriculum on Digital Psychiatry for a US-Based Psychiatry Residency Training Program: Pilot Implementation Study.

Area of Science:

• Digital psychiatry and health technology integration in mental healthcare.
• Medical education and resident training in emerging fields.

Background:

• Digital psychiatry, utilizing health technologies for mental health, is expanding.
• Psychiatric trainees currently receive minimal formal education in this area.
• Growing interest exists in the clinical application of digital mental health tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a digital psychiatry curriculum within a US psychiatry residency program.
• To assess changes in resident confidence regarding digital mental health app appraisal and clinical recommendations.
• To evaluate the feasibility of integrating digital psychiatry education into residency training.

Main Methods:

• A two-session, 60-minute web-based curriculum was delivered.
• Participants included postgraduate year 2-4 residents in an adult psychiatry program.
• Learner confidence was measured using pre- and post-session surveys.

Main Results:

• Confidence significantly improved in app appraisal (P=.03), digital health literacy assessment (P=.01), recommending tools (P=.03), and prescribing digital therapeutics (P=.03).
• Post-curriculum confidence ratings, while improved, remained below "somewhat comfortable" in key areas.
• The curriculum successfully addressed core objectives related to digital mental health competency.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a digital psychiatry curriculum for residents is feasible across training levels.
• Formal curriculum can enhance resident confidence in appraising and clinically utilizing digital mental health technologies.
• This study highlights the need for structured education in digital psychiatry for future clinicians.