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Contact: Kenneth Subotnik, PhD
Title: Practicum Coordinator/Contact
Director/Instructor(s): Dr. Keith Nuechterlein and Dr. Kenneth Subotnik
Phone: 310-825-0334 (prefer e mail)
Email: ksubotnik@mednet.ucla.edu
Website: http://www.semel.ucla.edu/psychology/course/aftercare-program-practicum-description
And http://www.semel.ucla.edu/schizophrenia/aftercare
Site Info Last Updated: Jan, 2016
The UCLA Aftercare Research Program is part of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior and provides outpatient psychiatric services to recent-onset schizophrenia patients in exchange for voluntary participation in our research protocols. The most frequent diagnostic categories in our patient population include schizophreniform disorder and schizophrenia, and we specialize in treating individuals who have been ill for 2 years or less. Our patients are typically in their early to mid-20s and about 75% are male. Since the clinic provides services free of charge as part of clinical research on new interventions, many patients participate from traditionally underserved populations. Services provided include individual psychotherapy, group therapy, case management, and psychiatric medication management. Research focuses on treatments designed to help young adult patients who have recently developed a psychotic disorder return to either work or school, and improve social cognition, with a goal of preventing the onset of chronic disability. There is a particular emphasis on understanding the role that cognitive deficits play in functional outcome in schizophrenia.
The trainee will conduct intake diagnostic interviews to determine if the presenting patient is eligible for participation in the Aftercare Research Program. The trainee will be trained to reliability to conduct the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) and other symptom assessment scales. Some initial screening of potential participants will be conducted over the phone with the patient and/or relatives. In addition, the trainee will assist in the assessment of potential normal control participants by conducting SCID interviews. Further, the trainee will have frequent contact with community psychiatric facilities, both inpatient and outpatient, throughout the Greater Los Angeles area to identify potential first-episode schizophrenia patients who might be interested and eligible to participate in the Program. Some contact with outside agencies and facilities will be in person, and some diagnostic interviews will be conducted on-site at referring agencies. The trainee must have reliable transportation and be willing to drive to the referring agencies. The trainee will assist in giving presentations about schizophrenia, and the Aftercare Research Program in particular, to various agencies and facilities in the L.A. area. Also, the trainee will learn how to administer a limited number of cognitive and neuropsychological assessments and conduct these assessments with the schizophrenia patients at the Program. We administer both commercially-available and research-based tests of working memory, attention, social cognition, and stimulus discrimination along with a number of questionnaires that address health attitudes, motivation, and quality of life. We do NOT provide formal assessment training that incorporates scoring, interpretation, and report writing. Observation of clinical assessments of unawareness of having a mental disorder (i.e., poor insight) and psychological factors affecting medication adherence can be arranged.
Requirements Fulfilled Assessment: 100 % Therapy: 0 % Adult: 100% Child: 0 Adolescent: 0
Disciplines Represented and Nature of Supervision Theoretical Orientation: NA
Supervision and Training
Our practicum begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 the following year. Intensive introductory training occurs in July, and trainees are expected to attend these sessions. NOTE: The trainee must be available to attend a weekly all staff meeting on Wednesday mornings at 10am, and a recruiters’ meeting Wednesdays 12:15 pm to 1pm Trainees will be exposed to a multidisciplinary team environment of psychiatrists, psychologists, case managers, community volunteers, UCLA undergraduate students, and staff research associates.
Trainees will have the opportunity to attend Quarterly Relatives Meeting where speakers provide psychoeducation to family members on relevant topics. These meetings provide trainees with the opportunity to learn about cutting edge treatments and interventions, as well as meet and interact with loved ones of the patients.
The specific days and times for conducting diagnostic eligibility interviews in general occurs between the hours of 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, although some phone calls might need to be returned during evenings and weekends, and occasionally an interview will occur in the evening hours. Regular schedule will be arranged with the direct supervisor.
Trainee may attend an optional case conference on Tuesdays at 10am. In addition, the trainee will be exposed to a variety of reading materials and discussion topics. We will use forms employed by the UCLA Medical Psychology faculty to document supervision and solicit trainee evaluation of the program.
Practicum Director/Contact: Kenneth Subotnik, PhD
Aftercare Research Program Director: Keith Nuechterlein, PhD
Number of Practicum Spots Available:1
Required day(s) and Times:
Practicum hours are variable and arranged in advance with the supervisor, and will be a total of 20 hours per week. Weekly staff meetings on Wednesdays at 10 am and 12:15 pm are mandatory. Weekly case conference, Tuesdays 10am, are optional but recommended.
Beginning and Ending Dates with hours expected per week:
July 1 and ends on June 30
Director/Instructor(s): Keith Nuechterlein, Kenneth Subotnik
Application process:
Application Due Date: 2/15/16
What application materials:
CV: Yes
Letter of interest : Yes
Letters of recommendation? Yes How many? 2-3
Can students apply via e-mail? Yes
Can Letters of recommendation be e-mailed? Yes
Applicants are screened via email first. Individuals should email Kenneth Subotnik, PhD, ksubotnik@mednet.ucla.edu, the following: (1) a letter of interest explaining why they want to work at our site; (2) most recent resume/CV; (3) 2 - 3 letters of recommendation. Sending materials via EMAIL is required. Please name each file with the following format (in the following example, the applicant’s name is “Jane Doe”, The content is “CV”, and date (e.g., Jane Doe CV 1-22-2016) Letters of recommendation should use a similar format but include the last name of the writer (Jane Doe letr rec Dr. Johnson 1-22-2016). Applicants with a particular interest in working with schizophrenia patients and developing professional contacts in the Los Angeles area are especially encouraged to apply.
