About PsychDB

PsychDB (Psychiatry DataBase) is an original, hand-crafted, psychiatry reference and mental health education resource for medical students, resident physicians, and staff physicians. It is free to use and open access.

This website is made and run by a Canadian psychiatrist with an interest in medical education. It was created as a teaching tool, to keep track of learning in residency, and also borne out of dissatisfaction with current medical education. Although the content here is intended for Canadian clinicians, it aims to be useful regardless of where one practices. International guidelines and research are commonly referenced throughout this website. PsychDB broadly covers topics across psychiatry, neurology, neuropsychiatry, and general medicine.

The goal of this website is to create easy access to diagnostic criteria, treatment guidelines, medication information, and teaching files. The website tries to be evidence-based by referencing the latest guidelines and primary research. However, controversies, critical issues, and debates within psychiatry are also included.

This website is a constant work-in-progress (perpetual beta) and you may find pages that are incomplete or still being written.

Disclaimer

This website is for educational purposes only. Words on a website can never be a substitute for clinical judgment and expertise. Read this disclaimer and terms of use for full details.

There are several key features to PsychDB:

  • On the homepage you'll notice an extensive list of psychiatric and neurologic diagnoses. Each diagnosis has its own page, with diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment recommendations, guidelines, and resources for patients and providers.
  • On the left menu are different sections with specific focuses in psychiatry:
    • On-call section with on-call tips (and resources primarily for Ontario psychiatrists)
    • Psychopharmacology guide and database on understanding and prescribing common psychotropics
    • Cognitive testing section that teaches you how to use and interpret common cognitive tests
    • Teaching files section geared towards medical students and residents, which teaches both key (and hopefully interesting) topics in psychiatry and beyond
    • Personality disorders section that covers personality disorders and approaches to treatment
    • Psychotherapy section that covers common psychotherapies and a brief introduction to each
    • Neurology section with a focus on the neurological exam and investigations

PsychDB uses a permalink system - anytime you hover over a heading or subheading on a page, a permalink icon will popup that allows you to cite that section of the page directly. Right-click to copy the link, or click it to generate it in your browser. Try it above!

If you notice any errors, have questions, friendly comments, or concerns, please use this contact form!

PsychDB is hosted on Dreamhost, and powered by a modified version of DokuWiki.