This elective offers students the opportunity to study outpatient psychiatry and emergency management of psychiatric patients. Students will be expected to participate with more independence in the diagnostic assessment of new patients in the clinic, as well as to assist senior residents in the evaluation and treatment of patients with psychiatric emergencies. An emphasis will be placed on the further development of psychiatric interviewing skills and diagnostic assessment skills. Students will be exposed to both psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic treatment modalities. Observation of group psychotherapy and participation in senior elective clinical readings, resident didactic seminars, and resident clinical conferences are expected of the clerk during this elective. The elective will be tailored as possible to the student's interests, including exposure to the University Adult Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, the VA Adult Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic, geriatric evaluations, addiction treatment, and community psychiatry sites.