Adolescent Substance Abuse / Mental Health and Dual Diagnosis

NOT AVAILABLE FOR AY2026-2027

Department of Psychiatry

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RPSY601

    Prerequisites: Completion of all Phase 2 clerkships; students must be interested in Psychiatry, Pediatrics, or Family Medicine as their specialty in order to take this elective

    Length of Time: 2 weeks

    Phase Availability: Phase 3

    Credit Type: Physician Assessed Patient Facing (PAPFE) or Open

    Call: None

  • Contact Information

    Program Director: Adrienne Adams, MD, MS

    Coordinator/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu)

    Location: TBD

Narrative Description: The student will work with the medical director at Rosecrance Griffin-Williamson campus to learn about substance use, mental health and co-occurring disorders. Students will participate in a number of activities including initial assessment, group treatment activities, 12-step treatment, psychiatric evaluations, medication monitoring, and telepsychiatry.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this rotation, the student should:

  1. Recognize and know the criteria for common substance use disorders seen in adolescents.
  2. Know the incidence of comorbid psychiatric and substance abuse problems in adolescents and adults.
  3. Recognize how individuals with mental illness such as major depression, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder and disruptive behavior disorders present with co-occurring substance use.
  4. Understand all major aspects of inpatient substance use treatment programs, including family therapy, group therapy, and 12-step treatment models.
  5. Present concisely a typical case.
  6. Understand how wraparound community programming integrates with other treatment in child and adolescent mental illness.

Learning Activities:

  1. Psychiatric evaluation at clinics with Dr. Adams
  2. Assessment and evaluations with Rosecrance assessment teams;
  3. Team meetings
  4. Group therapy
  5. Learning to present cases to include psychiatric diagnostic, mental status exam, formulation and biopsychosocial treatment plan

Method of Assessment: Students will be evaluated based on their ability to demonstrate competence in the area of assessment and treatment consistent to the learning objectives. This will occur by observation by Dr. Adams and by feedback Dr. Adams receives from others involved with the experience. The students will prepare 3 mini presentations consisting of brief literature searches on points of interest while working with this patient population.

Required Reading: Suggested reading(s) will be provided.

General Scheduling: Mon – Thur 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Friday – Scholarly activity protected time

Additional Resources: None

Miscellaneous Information: None