Resident Handbook

Welcome to Psychiatry!

The Members-in-Training (MIT) Subcommittee of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA), which is made up of representatives from across Canada, created this handbook for psychiatry residents and medical students interested in psychiatry. We have compiled a variety of resources that we believe will support and be a resource for you through your educational journey!

In addition to the handbook, other initiatives from the CPA MIT Subcommittee can be found on our social media. We have a Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/CPA.residents) and a private Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/cpa.residents) that enable MITs to connect with others across the country, share news and ideas related to our field, and obtain information on the annual conference and upcoming social events.

How to Use This Handbook

This is a resident-created resource. The information herein was selected based on the experience and knowledge of the authors who endeavored to be comprehensive while balancing conciseness and user-friendliness. The absence of certain resources does not imply that they are not useful. As such, readers are encouraged to suggest resources they recommend be included in the next edition of the handbook.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of the following Editors of the CPA’s Psychiatry Resident Handbook.

2024 (1st Edition):

Austin Lam, PGY-3, University of British Columbia

Ileana Andrada Popa, PGY-5, Université Laval

Raveen Virk, PGY-4, University of Calgary

Disclaimer

For your convenience, the Psychiatry Resident Handbook provides links to websites that are owned or operated by third parties. Such sites are independent of the CPA. The CPA has no control over the operation or content of such third-party sites nor does the CPA endorse these sites, approve their contents, or guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of such third-party information. It is your responsibility to ensure that you review the terms and conditions applicable to such third-party sites before using them.

No endorsement of any third-party products, services or information is expressed or implied by any information, material or content referred to or included on, or linked from or to the Psychiatry Resident Handbook.

The CPA assumes no responsibility or liability arising from any omission or error in the information available in the Psychiatry Resident Handbook or on this site, as further detailed in CPA’s Terms of Use.

About the Canadian Psychiatric Association

The Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) is a national, voluntary professional association for Canadian psychiatrists. Members include:

Practicing psychiatrists
Trainees (psychiatry residents and medical students)
Other health-care professionals working in mental health (e.g., family doctors, psychologists)

The CPA aims to provide a national voice for the Canadian psychiatry community. Its major activities cluster into four domains:

Advocacy: the CPA engages with stakeholders at the local, provincial/territorial, and national level about issues pertinent to Canadian psychiatrists. Key recommendations from the CPA are often published as position papers and statements.
Clinical resources: the CPA publishes national professional standards and manages the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry.
Continuing professional development: the CPA organizes the CPA Annual Conference as well as other continuing professional development (CPD) and accredits CPD events for psychiatrists.
Career development: the CPA runs a national mentorship network and educational events for trainees in medical school and residency. Many of these initiatives are led by the CPA MIT Subcommittee.

To accomplish these goals, the CPA organizes a wide variety of national committees, working groups, and member-led sections.

To learn more about the CPA please visit our website.

Membership Benefits

Stay Informed:

Access to the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, position papers, statements, clinical practice guidelines
Updates through weekly CPA newsletter (PsychEXPRESS) and quarterly residents’ newsletter (Resident Psych-e)

Advance Your Career:

Eligibility for CPA’s Junior Investigator Research Colloquium for mentorship in research
Access to CPA members-only job listings
Opportunities to influence public policy on important issues

Connect with Others:

Networking events to share ideas and collaborate with residents and staff nationwide
Engagement with experts through the CPA Annual Conference
Mentorship opportunities from practicing psychiatrists across Canada through the mentorship program

Save Money:

Discounts on activities, including the CPA Annual Conference
Exclusive CPA members pricing on travel, auto and home insurance from The Personal
Group rates for Goodlife, Telus
Award opportunities for members

Academic Opportunities:

CPA Annual Conference
Webinars from early career psychiatrists

Leadership Opportunities:

Opportunity to mentor medical students interested in psychiatry and be mentored by psychiatrists.
Opportunity to join the MIT Subcommittee and contribute to innovation and growth of psychiatry in Canada

Meet the CPA MIT Subcommittee and Advisory Group

MIT Subcommittee:

The purpose of the MIT Subcommittee is to provide expert advice and leadership to the CPA on matters of interest to psychiatry residents and trainees. Our mandate includes the following:

Represent and advocate for residents and trainees throughout CPA governance.
Identify, prioritize, and recommend new products and services for residents and trainees and provide input on existing offerings.
Encourage participation of all residents in the CPA.
Liaise with stakeholder organizations on issues related to resident matters in consultation with the Board as appropriate.
Collaborate with other CPA committees, the Executive, and Board on issues and matters related to residents and trainees.
Report on all work undertaken to the Membership Affairs Committee (MAC).

MIT Advisory Group:

The MIT Subcommittee organizes a national advisory group that includes one resident member from each of the 17 psychiatry postgraduate programs across Canada. These members are involved in providing feedback to the CPA on MIT initiatives, updating co-residents on national opportunities for MITs and volunteering on MIT working groups.

Medical student and resident volunteers are involved in the following:

Organizing the quarterly Resident Psych-E newsletter
Developing MIT targeted conference workshops
Developing national webinars for MITs, often in collaboration with early career psychiatrists
Managing MIT targeted social media channels
Preparing the national Psychiatry Resident Handbook
Organizing a national resident trivia event and social at each CPA Annual Conference
Liaising with medical student interest groups in the country to help foster interest in psychiatry
Supporting MITs nationally in any initiative they are interested in developing at a national scale
Conference workshops and webinar series

Get Involved

A national call for volunteers happens each summer and is sent out to all MITs who have agreed to receive emails from the CPA. If you have any questions or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact the MIT Subcommittee chair at mit @ cpa-apc.org.

SECTION 1: Education

Books

Psychiatric Interviewing

Title

Commentary

Psychiatric Interviewing: The Art of Understanding by Shawn Christopher O’Shea

This is considered by many to be the most comprehensive introduction to interviewing principles. What’s useful is that it creates a shared ‘language’ to describe common techniques in psychiatric interviewing that you can use with both staff and junior learners. Highlights of the book include describing specific techniques to elicit various aspects of the mental status examination and suicide risk assessments.

The Psychiatric Interview: A Practical Guide by Daniel Carlat

A shorter overview of psychiatric interviewing compared to Dr. O’Shea’s book. Its strength is that it focuses on key ideas and questions essential to completing the mental status examination and psychiatric interview.

Psychiatric Clinical Skills, Revised 1st Edition, Edited by David Goldbloom

A practical guide to psychiatric interviewing covering a range of clinical areas and settings. Chapters are written by experienced clinicians in each respective area.

The Pocket Guide to the DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Exam by Abraham M. Nussbaum

A practical companion to the DSM-5-TR to aid with diagnostic interviewing. It provides sample questions to ask when exploring DSM-5-TR diagnoses.

General Psychiatry

Title	Commentary
DSM 5-TR	While certain conditions may be more prevalent than others, it is recommended to read the entire DSM-5-TR from start to end during residency. Good information on background, elaborates on criteria, and differentiating between other diagnoses.
Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry by Robert Boland, Marcia Verduin, Pedro Ruiz	Available in the full version, synopsis and handbook. The synopsis is a reasonable format that still contains the necessary details covered for exams. While some residents choose to read this book in its entirety, many use it as a reference tool when wishing to learn about a specific topic in greater depth.
Lalonde : Psychiatrie Clinique, Tome I & II par Pierre Lalonde, Georges-F Pinard	Approche bio-psycho-sociale des psychopathologies et de leur traitement. Il s’agit d’une ressource québécoise détaillée, utile pour l’étude à tout moment de la formation médicale jusqu’à la résidence en psychiatrie.

Psychotherapy

Title	Commentary
Gabbard’s Textbook of Psychotherapy by Holly Crisp, Glen O. Gabbard	Comprehensive information on different psychotherapies, including psychodynamic therapies, mentalization-based treatment, transference-focused therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, supportive psychotherapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy.
Learning Supportive Psychotherapy by Arnold Winston, Richard N. Rosenthal, Henry Pinsker, Glen O. Gabbard	Provides instructions on the fundamentals of supportive psychotherapy, which focuses on patients’ overall well-being and their ability to adapt constructively to their life circumstances.
Mind over Mood by Dennis Greenberger, Christine Padesky	A good overview of cognitive-behavioral therapy for a lay audience. It can be used by patients alone or in conjunction with professional therapy. Included are instructions on specific skills, including step-by-step worksheets. There is a separate corresponding Clinician’s Guide to CBT Using Mind Over Mood.
DBT Skills Training Manual by Marsha Linehan	Provides instructions for implementing DBT skills training groups, including teaching notes for DBT’s four major skills: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance. There is a separate corresponding companion book with the handouts and worksheets: DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy: A Clinician’s Guide by Michael Robertson, Scott Stuart	Introduces IPT, including an overview of theoretical issues, critical appraisal of IPT research, clinically based descriptions, case studies and reproducible diagrams.
Psychoanalytic Diagnosis by Nancy McWilliams	This book makes psychoanalytic personality theory and its implications for practice accessible. It explains major character types and demonstrates specific ways that understanding the patient’s individual personality structure can influence the therapist’s focus and style of intervention.
Manuel des psychothérapies brèves par Edmond Gilléron	Ressource utile pour la thérapie psychodynamique brève d’inspiration analytique, qui conceptualise la psychopathologie de manière à tenir compte de ses composantes somatiques, intrapsychiques et environnementales. Les indications de la thérapie y sont détaillées, de même que plusieurs rapports de cas utiles.
Psychodynamic Psychiatry in Clinical Practice Gabbard by Glen O. Gabbard	Concise and useful resource for psychodynamic psychotherapy, that also applies well to day-to-day interventions in clinical settings.
Good Psychiatric Management for Borderline Personality Disorder by John Gunderson	Easy to read, concise resource for a basic approach to treating patients with BPD, as inpatients or as outpatients, destined to psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

Psychopharmacology

Title	Commentary
Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology by Stephen Stahl, Nancy Muntner	Provides an in-depth discussion of the mechanism of action of various medications with a focus on receptors to explain their effects.
The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines in Psychiatry, 14th Edition, by David Taylor, Thomas Barnes, Allan Young	Comprehensive handbook on psychotropic agents, including for both common and complex prescribing situations. The book provides guidance on drug choice, doses, adverse effects and switching medications. Provides more clinical context than Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology.
Prescriber’s Guide: Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology by Stephen Stahl	Covers a wide range of psychotropic medications arranged alphabetically. A general overview of each medication is provided, including general therapeutics, dosing and use, side effects, special populations and pearls.
Clinical Handbook of Psychotropic Drugs for Children and adolescent and for Adults by Dr. Elbe, Dr. Black, Dr. McGrane	Provides detailed information about psychotropic medications with various tables comparing dosing, side effects, interactions and pharmacokinetics. There is a separate handbook for children and adolescents and adults.
Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice by Daniel J Carlat and Talia Puzantian	Covers important facts about the most commonly prescribed medications in psychiatry, including single-page information sheets.
Managing the Side Effects of Psychotropic Medications, Second Edition by Carrie L. Ernst and Joseph F. Goldberg	Provides an overview of managing the side effects of commonly and uncommonly prescribed psychiatric medications, including the assessment and formulation of possible adverse effects. Information is organized by individual organ systems, and self-assessment questions.
The Maudsley Practice Guidelines for Physical Health Conditions in Psychiatry by David Taylor, Fiona Gaughran, and Toby Pillinger	An evidence-based and practical guide for the appropriate assessment, investigation and management of common physical health conditions seen in people with severe mental illness.

Addiction Psychiatry

Title	Commentary
The Carlat Guide to Addiction Treatment: Ridiculously Practical Clinical Advice by Michael Weaver	Provides information on evaluating the severity of substance use and how to decide the best treatments for your patients. For example, you’ll find detailed instructions on how to frame your questions about this sensitive topic, how to order drug screens, how 12-step programs work, and how to prescribe medications that will help your patients.

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

Title	Commentary
Somatization and Psychosomatic Symptoms edited by Kyung Bong Koh	Describes an integrative approach to understanding and managing somatic symptoms. This book explores in-depth subjects such as fibromyalgia pain, stress-induced cardiomyopathy, post-stroke depression and others.
Psycho-Oncology edited by Ute Goerling	Explores the psychosocial impact of cancer on patients and management strategies through a psycho-oncology perspective. It follows patients from the initial stages of the disease all through survivorship and end-of-life care.
Kaufman’s Clinical Neurology for Psychiatrists by David Kaufman	Explains each condition’s neurologic and psychiatric features, physical exam findings, appropriate tests, differential diagnosis and management options. Correlates neurologic illnesses with the DSM-5. Includes nearly 2,000 multiple-choice questions both in print and online for the ABPN certifying exam.

For additional resources for consultation liaison, please refer to https://www.clpsychiatry.org/wp-content/uploads/resident-readinglist.pdf

Websites/Subscriptions

General learning

Website Name	Commentary
PsychDB	PsychDB provides an overview of the most common psychiatry topics medical students and residents will encounter during their training. Highlights include an ‘on-call’ section with detailed approaches to common acute presentations, teaching files on assessment/diagnosis, and an overview of common psychotherapy modalities. It also has links to patient resources. This is a highly recommended resource for medical students and residents.
Simple Psych	SimplePsych was developed by UBC psychiatry residents. Highlights include slides summarizing all sections of DSM-5 and relevant treatment guidelines, a repository of North American treatment guidelines, a virtual “lecture series,” assessment templates and psychometric scales. You need to register (at no cost) for access to all content.
Psych Vitals	Psych Vitals was developed by a University of Calgary psychiatrist (Dr. Gar Wai Susan Poon). Its highlights include Royal College level quizzes, resident reading list, clinician forms (includes medico-legal documents for Alberta, etc.) and patient handouts (including a great summary of various Calgary-based social services/resources i.e., addictions, income support, etc.).
SwitchRx	SwitchRX is an online medication switching tool co-developed by Dr. Ric Procyshyn, editor for Clinical Handbook of Psychotropic Drugs. This website can be used to plan out safe and effective cross-tapers between psychotropic medications.
Psych Scene Hub	This website has videos and summaries on different psychiatric topics, including pharmacology, different illnesses and treatments.
Psychopharmacopeia	This website provides clear summaries of psychotropic drugs. This includes how to prescribe them, their pharmacokinetics/dynamics, and implications for different patient populations.
UBC Neuroanatomy	Provides an excellent introduction to neuroanatomy with descriptions of different regions as well as cross-section images. There are videos, interactive modules and MRI scans.
Psychiatric Times	This website provides up-to-date articles on psychiatric care, including clinical, commentary and practical information. The content encompasses research updates, conference coverage, perspectives from the field and treatment information.

Subscription-based websites

Website Name

Commentary

Psychopharmacology Institute

Background: This site shares great videos and podcast episodes providing the latest information on psychopharmacology and treatment of different illnesses. The website also states you can contact them for three months free as a new resident.

Cost: Silver Membership: $347(USD) /year (Bronze and Gold Memberships as well; cost as of Nov 2023).

The Carlat Psychiatry Report

Background: The Carlat Psychiatry Report provides a monthly up-to-date overview of the latest psychiatric research and includes informative interviews with psychiatric clinicians and researchers. Each issue has continuing medical education questions.

Cost: $147 (USD) /year for subscription to the General Psychiatry Report (cost as of Nov 2023).

Podcasts

Podcast Name	Commentary
PsychEd	PsychEd is a psychiatry podcast created by medical learners, for medical learners, based out of the University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry, with expert guest speakers from across Canada. The initial episode series highlights common psychiatric conditions, making diagnosis, and management. Later episodes have discussed various topics of interest including psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, MAID and mental illness, and pain psychiatry.
Psychiatry and Psychotherapy	Hosted by Dr. David Puder (psychiatrist, faculty Loma Linda University, California), this podcast covers different topics on psychiatry and psychotherapy. There are over 170 episodes. As this is based in the USA, some discussions are more related to their system. We highly recommend this podcast’s psychotherapy episodes. Some examples include “Integration of Psychotherapy as Treatment Modality,” and “Listening Psychodynamically.”
Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories	Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving patient stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy and psychedelics.
Carlat Psychiatry Podcast	The Carlat Podcast provides regular updates on clinical psychiatry in 15-minute episodes, with a wide range of topics. The transcripts are also posted online. The General Psychiatry podcasts are hosted by Dr. Chris Aiken and Kellie Newsome (psychiatric nurse practitioner).
Psycauserie	Psycauserie is an initiative of psychiatry residents from Laval University. Various guests are invited to discuss subjects of general interest on the themes of psychiatry, psychology, and society. Psycauserie est une initiative de résidents en psychiatrie de l’Université Laval. Plusieurs invités y sont reçus afin de discuter divers sujets d’intérêt, en lien avec les thèmes de la psychiatrie, de la psychologie et de la société.

Apps

Name	Commentary
UpToDate	UpToDate Background: Great resource for non-psychiatric and psychiatric rotations. Provides lots of information on pharmacology, disease processes, and patient education resources. Cost: Resident price: US$219-579 annually or US$399-1,029 for a two-year subscription. Discount available through CMA. Access may be available through training institutions or hospital sites. (Cost as of Sept 2024).
MD on Call	MD on Call Background: Great for when on call and there are medical ward issues. The app has approaches to various common problems such as abdominal pain, chest pain, constipation, fever, hypertension, etc. Cost: $12.99-13.99 one time. (Cost as of Sept 2024).
Medscape	Medscape Background: Great resource for non-psychiatric rotations. Has various utilities, including medical calculators, drug interactions and drug formularies for safe prescribing. Can see images of prescription medications. Cost: Free.
MedCalX	MedCalX Background: Medical calculator (scores, formulas, classifications). Can use patient information to generate individualized charts. Good for both non-psychiatric and psychiatric rotations. Cost: Free for 50 most common formulas.

Royal College Exam Study Courses

Review Course	Dates	Commentary	Cost
E.K. Koranyi Review Course in Psychiatry University of Ottawa (+ virtual)	Jan. 6-10, 2025	Structure: Five days of didactic lectures followed by a Q&A period.	Early (before Dec. 15, 2024): $695 + HST Late: $810 + HST
Chandarana Psychiatry Review Course Western University (+ virtual)	Jan. 20-24, 2025	Structure: Five-day review course. Each topic is broken up into an OSCE station, OSCE appraisal/feedback, topic update, and a Q&A period.	Early (before Dec 1, 2024): $800 + HST Regular: $900 + HST
Psych Refresh University of Toronto (Virtual)	Lectures: Jan. 13-15, 2025 Lectures + interactive: Jan. 13-17, 2025	Structure: Three days of teaching sessions followed by two additional days of interactive small group sessions (OSCE prep and discussion) for those interested.	Early (before Dec 31, 2024): Lectures only: $1,017 Lectures/Interactive (Combined): $1,356

SECTION 2: Professional Development

Conferences

Conference

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Meeting

American Psychiatric Association Annual Conference

American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law

Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance Conference

Canadian Academy for Addiction Psychiatry

Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Conference

Canadian Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Annual Conference

Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting

Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Annual Conference

Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacology

Canadian Psychiatric Association Annual Conference

Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine Scientific Conference and Annual Meeting

Communauté de pratique annuelle de l’Association québécoise de psychiatrie de l’enfant et de l’adolescent

Congrès annuel de l’Association des médecins psychiatres du Québec

European Congress of Psychiatry

European Congress of Neurology and Neuropsychiatry

International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting

International Society of Addiction Medicine Annual Conference

International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) Annual Conference

North American Refugee Health Conference

Society for the Study of Psychiatry and Culture Annual Conference

The College on Problems of Drug Dependence Annual Scientific Meeting

World Association of Cultural Psychiatry World Congress

World Congress Biological Psychiatry

World Congress of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions

World Congress on ADHD

World Neuroscience and Psychiatry Conference

World Psychiatric Association – World Congress of Psychiatry

Mentorship Opportunities

Canadian Psychiatric Association Mentorship Program

Mentees receive one-to-one guidance from mentors sharing mutual professional interests within their area of expertise. Residents and medical students will learn to identify unique opportunities, develop clinical, academic and life skills, cultivate leadership, and expand their professional network.

Awards and Funding

General Residency

Name	Description
Canadian Association for Medical Education (CAME) Rising Star – Certificate of Excellence	The award is intended to recognize learners who have demonstrated a commitment and/or passion for medical education. This could be education, research, curriculum or workshop development, leadership, advocacy, etc., that has had a positive impact on the health professions education community at their school or beyond.
Canadian Medical Association (CMA) Award for Young Leaders ~ due Nov. 30	Exemplified creativity, initiative and shown commitment to “making a difference;” been active and effective at the local, provincial/territorial and/or national level; acted as a positive and effective role model for their peers and colleagues.
Sandra Banner Student Award for Leadership ~due Dec. 15	The purpose of these annual awards is to encourage the development of future leaders in medicine, through public recognition and financial support of undergraduate and postgraduate medical trainees who have demonstrated interest in/aptitude for leadership. Each award is accompanied by up to $3,000 in funding to support learners’ proposed leadership activities, e.g., leadership conferences (including registration, travel and accommodation), formal leadership education at an accredited educational institution, or for a leadership elective (with defined leadership development goals).

Psychiatry Specific

Name

Description

Member-in-Training Award for Excellence – Canadian Psychiatric Association

~due Feb. 1

This award is presented annually to an outstanding psychiatry resident in alignment with the CPA mission to promote and recognize excellence among its membership.

Applicants must have demonstrated exemplary dedication, commitment and leadership in one or more of the following domains: advocacy, research, or education. Applicants must also demonstrate involvement with CPA through having done one or more of the following: attended a CPA Annual Conference or other CPA educational activity; presented at a CPA Annual Conference; submitted an abstract to the current year’s CPA Annual Conference; or participated in CPA’s Junior Investigator Research Colloquium.

Resident Psychiatric Educator Award – Association of Academic Psychiatry

The Resident Psychiatric Educator Award program was created to honor psychiatry residents who demonstrate particular promise as educators and scholars in the field of academic psychiatry.

SECTION 3: Clinical Practice

Subspecialty Programs

In this section, you will find a list of universities across Canada that offer subspecialty program training and their website for further information regarding the curriculum and application process.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Forensic Psychiatry

Geriatric Psychiatry

Areas of Focused Competence (Diploma) Programs

Addiction Medicine

Sleep Disorder Medicine

Neurologie comportementale et neuropsychiatrie

Dalhousie University

SECTION 4: Wellness

Postgraduate Program Wellness Resources

Memorial University of Newfoundland