News:

CPD Online at the RCPSYCH international congress, 28 June–01 July 2011

Never used CPD Online before and want an introductory demo? An existing subscriber but want to enhance your use of the site? Once again, the content editor will be on hand this year to answer any queries you have about CPD Online and provide one-to-one demonstrations. If you have any views about the site please do come and give us your feedback. And if you are an author, or you would be interested in authoring, we would be delighted to discuss your ideas. We hope to see you there!

Learn to meet your needs

Our modules are being categorised in accordance with the three new CPD domains: clinical, professional and academic. You will soon be able to sort the modules according to their CPD category as well as their subject area, date published, and other criteria. This will help you meet your revalidation aspirations and get a balance in your learning activities.

Educational feature:

Unplanned learning - do we learn even when we do not plan to learn?

Dr Arunima Ghosh-Nodiyal

Random learning, also called incidental or unplanned learning, occurs at any time and in any place in everyday life (UNESCO, 2005). It is characterised as unorganised, unstructured and unintentional (setting it apart from “informal learning”, which is intentional).

You may be shopping in your local town on Saturday and happen to notice an elderly gentleman who has lost his way. Could he have Alzheimer’s? While helping him you may incidentally learn by observing him. You might interact with him and “unknowingly” notice his dyspraxia and dysphasia. Though it is an informal situation, the learning is situated, contextual, and social – the characteristics considered most effective in formal learning situations (Rogers, 1997; Kerka, 2000).

However, on a not so sunny day you may actively choose to learn and also earn CPD points with one of our CPD Online modules. CPD Online, too, bridges the gap between everyday activity and learning through its reflective questions, allowing you to make the most of what you have learnt informally. 

Psychotropic medication and the heart: Part 1

Understanding the link between mood disorder and heart disease is vital for psychiatrists. These two complementary modules will give you the knowledge you need, teaching you how to read and interpret ECGs, helping you comprehend the potential adverse effects of psychotropic medication on the cardiovascular system, and giving you the confidence to use antidepressants in heart disease.

Music therapy – an introduction

Have you considered music therapy for your patients? Here you can watch and listen to examples of this fascinating therapy in practice. You will gain a basic understanding of the main approaches, learn about the skills involved, and understand how the therapy could aid your patients. The module presents case studies of patients with autism, schizophrenia and dementia.