Using serial simulations to teach about chronic illness in psychiatry (McAlpine, 2020)

McAlpine Lynsey  Allen Kirsty  Ghosh Pia  Bailey Alex. 

BMJ simulation & technology enhanced learning 2020;6 (3 ): 188 -189 . 

Available online at this link 

Simulation training is increasingly being recognised as a valuable teaching modality in mental health professions. With recent expansion of the number of psychiatry foundation training posts in the UK, there is a strong imperative to develop high-quality simulation training which is tailored to the learning needs of foundation doctors and aligned with the UK Foundation Programme curriculum. Communication skills, psychiatric clinical skills and management of chronic illnesses have all been identified as priority areas in the UK Foundation Programme curriculum. In this paper, we describe an innovative simulation training programme which utilises serial simulations to develop complex patient narratives and demonstrate illness progression over time. We reflect on the lessons learnt from designing and implementing this training within the North West Thames Foundation School.