NCRP Training Learning Modules

Our materials are packaged into three general areas — classroom, self-study, and continuing medical education (CME). Each type is available in 13 different disease-based knowledge areas and one 5-Hour Essentials version. Any provider or trainee who wishes to become skilled in reproductive psychiatry will receive a specialized overview of the field by completing both the classroom and self-study modules, and then taking all 14 CME exams.

Women’s Health Across the Lifespan Modules

The Reproductive Life Cycle

The Reproductive Life Cycle

This unit reviews the basic science of the reproductive life cycle, including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause, as well as the basic science of contraception and lactation.

Classroom activities include a progressive case conference concerning a woman at different reproductive stages, a contraception case conference, and a conference about drug interations between contraceptives and psychotropics.

The media module covers weight and body image in pregnancy and postpartum. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Infertility and Loss

Infertility and Loss

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of emotional distress and psychiatric symptoms associated with infertility and reproductive loss.

There are two self-study segments, one on biological aspects of infertility and loss, and another on epidemiology and important co-morbidities. Classroom activities include two separate case conferences, an integrative case focusing on infertility and its treatment, and a progressive case focusing on loss.

The media module covers stress and infertility. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Premenstrual Mood Syndromes

Premenstrual Mood Syndromes

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of emotional distress and psychiatric symptoms associated with infertility and reproductive loss.

The media module covers stress and infertility. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and its related syndromes, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual exacerbation of another mood disorder.

Self-study segments include a detailed basic science update as well as an “ask-the-expert” video concerning treatment. Classroom activities include two case conferences, one for a patient with PMDD and one for a patient with premenstrual exacerbation of another mood disorder.

The media module covers misconceptions in the media about the effects of hormonal birth control on mood and on premenstrual symptoms. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Pregnancy and Postpartum Modules

Depressive Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of depressive disorders in pregnancy and postpartum, with an emphasis on learning to read the literature concerning risks of untreated illness vs. risks of medication. The self-study section has four short videos on important statistical concepts, which will also be useful for other units of the curriculum. Classroom activities include a “risk-risk” conversation between a patient and perinatal psychiatrist (including a video) and two additional case conferences. Progressive case conferences follow one patient through different stages OR present a second case to which learners must apply lessons learned from the first case. Integrative case conferences ask learners to integrate multiple perspectives into their understanding of the patient’s situation. The media module concerns media misinterpretations of the scientific literature about antidepressant safety in pregnancy. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in pregnancy and postpartum. Self-study segments include information about risk factors, polypharmacy, and the co-morbidity with autoimmune illness. There is one classroom session that is quite long and may require more than 60 minutes to complete. The media module concerns media portrayals of OCD and of thoughts of infant harm. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 1-3 classroom hours for this module.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in pregnancy and postpartum. The self-study segment offers an overview of management in pregnancy and postpartum. The classroom activity is a progressive case conference, and the media module concerns risks of stimulant medication. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 2 classroom hours for this module.

Bipolar Disorder

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of bipolar affective illness in pregnancy and postpartum. Self-study segments provide an overview of the illness as well as detailed information about the use of mood stabilizers and antispsychotics in pregnancy. Classroom activities include three separate case conferences focused on different time points in the peripartum – early and late pregnancy and postpartum (postpartum psychosis). The media module covers postpartum psychosis and infanticide. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

This unit covers the myriad effects of trauma history on psychiatric illness in the perinatal period, including but not limited to PTSD. Self-study segments cover the management of trauma and abortion and trauma, and classroom activities include trauma management, intimate partner violence, and traumatic delivery. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Primary Psychotic Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of primary psychotic disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. This includes both pre-existing disorders and those that may arise for the first time in pregnancy, such as pseudocyesis. There are three self-study segments, covering ethics, psychopharmacology, and pseudocyesis, and one classroom activity (a case conference). The media module covers the role of psychosis in baby stealing and fetal harm. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 2 classroom hours for this module.

Anxiety Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of anxiety disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. The self-study segment provides an overview, and classroom activities include three case conferences: a “risk-risk” conversation between patient and perinatal psychiatrist concerning benzodiazepine use, and two separate case conferences, which may be combined in one classroom session. Progressive case conferences follow one patient through different stages OR present a second case to which learners must apply lessons learned from the first case. Integrative case conferences ask learners to integrate multiple perspectives into their understanding of the patient’s situation. The media module concerns media depictions of stress in pregnancy. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 4 classroom hours for this module.

Substance Use Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of substance use disorders in pregnancy and postpartum. Four self-study segments include information about sex and gender differences in substance use disorders generally, as well as specifics about tobacco, cocaine, and methamphetamine use. Classroom activities include case conferences on both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, and the media module covers marijuana use in pregnancy. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

Eating Disorders

This unit covers the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of eating disorders and the interaction of eating disorders with the female reproductive cycle. There are three self-study segments, with eating disorder basics, eating disorders and preconception and sexual health, and eating disorders and menopause. Classroom activities include a progressive case conference on eating disorders through the perinatal period and a “Family Feud” type exercise on the comorbidity of eating disorders and substance use disorders. Finally, there is a classroom activity on screening for eating disorders in the perinatal period, which can be combined with one of the other two modules. The media module covers pro-eating disorder sites. Each classroom activity is designed to be completed in one hour, for a total of 3 classroom hours for this module.

5-Hour Essentials

This mini-curriculum is designed for programs that have limited time to devote to reproductive psychiatry teaching and would like to have a balanced program without having to pick and choose among all of NCRP’s offerings. Please read the “Guide to Use” before downloading any of the materials; this gives details about the organization of materials and recommended order of completion.

Classroom

The classroom materials are largely downloadable guides — one for the trainee, one for a facilitator — that are designed to be used in an interactive classroom exercise and require no specialized knowledge on the part of the facilitator.

Self-Study

The self-study materials are videos and interactive exercises that a trainee can complete directly on the website.

CME

Coming soon! The CME materials are short exams each of the 14 topics.