Psychiatric Epidemiology

[szymk1sm]

What are your thoughts about psychiatric epidemiology?

I am applying to doctorate programs again this year and have recently stumbled upon this field. My background is in Experimental Psychology so I thought Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience were my only viable options if I wanted to continue onto a research career path.

Over the summer, I came across UMass Med’s PhD in Clinical and Health Population Research and fell in love. As a prerequisite for the application, I had to take an Intro to Epidemiology course (for which I am currently enrolled) and came across the field of Psychiatric Epidemiology.

This field seems to mesh with what I would like to do—research neurological and psychiatric disorders, in particular neurodegenerative disorders and mood disorders. Briefly, I am interested in the efficacy of interventions, studying novel treatments, and how to decreases rates of readmission into the hospital. I am also interested in the rates of depression seen in Parkinson’s disease and treatments to manage both disorders.

The two programs that really stood out to me are:

Johns Hopkins PhD in Mental Health and Harvard’s ScD in Neuro-Psychiatric Epidemiology.

Obviously both schools have an incredible reputation so I am really questioning if it is even worth it to apply to these programs. I have applied to Clinical Psychology PhD programs in the past so I understand how the numbers game can go. Do they only recruit the best of the best or does research interest and match play a more important role?

Not sure if it is important, but I have a BS in Psychology & Criminal Justice (GPA 3.83), MS in Experimental Psychology (neuroscience concentration; GPA 3.67), GRE 540-v, 650-q, 5.0-w, 2 years experience working with animal models of PD, 1.5 years experience working with PD patients, 2+ years working with mood disordered patients (inpatients, neuroimaging studies, drug studies), 1 article in review, 2 more in the preparation stage, around 10 poster presentations at local and national conferences (1 coming up in November).

Any input, guidance, criticisms are welcomed!!

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[prodigious]

hi,

i dont have any inputs but yes even i am interested in psychiatric epidemiology.. I am medical graduate from India and have received admission to Uni of Texas at houston for epidemiology and if i get a visa will be coming down coming spring. I would like to take advantage of the human genetics wing of the department there and work on the genetic aspects of psychiatric epidemiology..

As i have come to learn we are only born with ID and a set of genes and the amazingly complex interactions make us who we are today..

Nice to see someone with a similar interest..

 

[Stories]

Looking at your research interests, it seems to me that the best training for you would be to do the MD then MPH route since your interests are very tied to the clinic. That's not to say you can't be involved with clinical research if you don't go that a route, but the PhD training will likely be a quite a bit different than what you're used to (and may be expecting).

You may also consider looking into programs that offer specialties into clinical trials. These may be housed within biostatistics programs, as well, so take a look into those, too.

 

[prodigious]

i already have a medical degree!!! i might try for residency later on if i feel need more training!! i'll look into what you said..
as i am an international student i think i'll get a clear idea once i come there..

Thanks for the inputs..

 

[szymk1sm]

That's not to say you can't be involved with clinical research if you don't go that a route, but the PhD training will likely be a quite a bit different than what you're used to (and may be expecting).

Can you please explain what you mean by that?

 

[Stories]

Can you please explain what you mean by that?

Epidemiology research tends to be a lot less "people oriented" than what most people anticipate. A lot of epidemiology training is also strictly in methods of how to conduct studies and do analysis on the collected data. Most of the expertise of your subject area tends to be something you already have a grasp of before hand. Particularly something that's as clinically focused as you've suggested.

 

[szymk1sm]

Thank you for clarifying.

 

[KPZ]

Thank you for clarifying.

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? Thank you!

 

[JaneOakmede]

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? Thank you!

I know Pitt has neuroepi and psych epi researchers and I believe close ties with the Psychiatry dept. at UPMC. If you go to the faculty research page they have links to professors for these two areas: http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/epidemiology/research-and-practice.

 

[KPZ]

I know Pitt has neuroepi and psych epi researchers and I believe close ties with the Psychiatry dept. at UPMC. If you go to the faculty research page they have links to professors for these two areas: http://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/epidemiology/research-and-practice.

Thanks! Yeah I did talk to them quite a bit and it sounds like a great program, but really expensive and they don't offer any funding for masters students.

 

[szymk1sm]

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? Thank you!

I actually ended up going to a Clinical Psychology PhD program, so I can't speak to the psychiatric epidemiology field. I would look at faculty members within the public health/epidemiology departments to see what their research interests are in. If they're involved in mental health at all, then you may be able to develop your interests in psychiatric epidemiology. You may also be able to take classes outside of your department. May be worth asking if this is a possibility and what your options are before you make a final decision as to where you go. Good luck!

 

[KPZ]

I actually ended up going to a Clinical Psychology PhD program, so I can't speak to the psychiatric epidemiology field. I would look at faculty members within the public health/epidemiology departments to see what their research interests are in. If they're involved in mental health at all, then you may be able to develop your interests in psychiatric epidemiology. You may also be able to take classes outside of your department. May be worth asking if this is a possibility and what your options are before you make a final decision as to where you go. Good luck!

Thanks for responding and that's a good idea!