Psychiatric Epidemiology?

[yeti00]

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Hi Guys,

Not sure if anyone knows about this, but what are good programs in Psychiatric Epidemiology? I was looking at Wash U's Masters in Psychiatric Epidemiology (MPE) program, but I don't really know much about it or any other programs in the same area. I might be really interested in the field, so any info would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[PsychMD]

* Mental Health Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Iowa College of Medicine/College of Public Health

* NIDA Epidemiology/Prevention Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

* Psychiatric Epidemiology Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

* NIMH Training Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine

* Research Training in Psychiatric Epidemiology, Columbia University

* Clinical Investigator Training Program, McMaster University

* Psychiatric Epidemiology Training Program, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

 

[yeti00]

thanks, that's actually really helpful 😀

 

[KPZ]

thanks, that's actually really helpful 😀

Hi, I've been searching the internet for a forum where someone mentioned psych epi because that is the field I am interested in going into. I am currently waiting to hear back on final decisions for the MPH programs I applied to. Did you end up studying psych epi and, if so, where did you choose to go? Do you have any tips on what schools would be the best fit for that specialty?

I got into (MPH): WashU, Emory, Columbia, Pitt, Florida
Waiting to hear from: Harvard (ScM), Johns Hopkins (MPH), VCU (MPH)

Thank you!

 

[splik]

what area of epidemiology are you interested in - genetic, social, clinical, lifespan? you should do a program that is strong in the area of epidemiology you are interested above a program that has a specific focus on psychiatric epidemiology. that said, harvard, hopkins, columbia and wash u have excellent epidemiology programs and also have people who are well known in psychiatric epidemiology. but the actual basic science matters more imho than the "psychiatric"

 

[KPZ]

what area of epidemiology are you interested in - genetic, social, clinical, lifespan? you should do a program that is strong in the area of epidemiology you are interested above a program that has a specific focus on psychiatric epidemiology. that said, harvard, hopkins, columbia and wash u have excellent epidemiology programs and also have people who are well known in psychiatric epidemiology. but the actual basic science matters more imho than the "psychiatric"

That's a good point. I am a career changer from a background in business analysis it's hard for me to say definitively. I was accepted at Columbia into the chronic disease certificate. I am considering going on to an MD or a PhD and directing clinical studies, but I also have an interest in genetics. That's good input though; I will do some research around that.

 

[twright]

You should think carefully about the kind of epi that you will want to go into. Different schools have different flavors. HSPH is overrun by the causal inference police and JHU will soon be, but they are large enough schools that you can develop into a different kind of epidemiologist if you choose to.

Keep in mind HSPH only offers an ScD not a PhD (although that will soon change with their new PhD in Population Health Science).

If you are interested in academia then your pedigree will matter but not as much as you think it might. There are always chances to upgrade. After you finish your MPH you can go to a better PhD program. After you finish your PhD you can do your postdoc at a better program. Etc. It kind of works out okay because as you progress your interests will become more and more specific and you will have a better idea of where you should go to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

 

[KPZ]

You should think carefully about the kind of epi that you will want to go into. Different schools have different flavors. HSPH is overrun by the causal inference police and JHU will soon be, but they are large enough schools that you can develop into a different kind of epidemiologist if you choose to.

Keep in mind HSPH only offers an ScD not a PhD (although that will soon change with their new PhD in Population Health Science).

If you are interested in academia then your pedigree will matter but not as much as you think it might. There are always chances to upgrade. After you finish your MPH you can go to a better PhD program. After you finish your PhD you can do your postdoc at a better program. Etc. It kind of works out okay because as you progress your interests will become more and more specific and you will have a better idea of where you should go to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Thank you for the insight! I know this is going to sound ridiculously ignorant; but what's the best way to get an idea of the "flavor" of each school? I guess reach out to current students?

 

[twright]

Thank you for the insight! I know this is going to sound ridiculously ignorant; but what's the best way to get an idea of the "flavor" of each school? I guess reach out to current students?

Sorry I don't know if there's a systematic way to do that. "Flavor" is pretty unscientific in this context, and for each person who tells you the flavor is XYZ you can probably find someone else who will tell you that no it is actually PQRS.