Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Clinical Psychology

Overview

The Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) is one of the premier training centres in India for mental health professionals. It is affiliated to Ranchi University for academic courses of PhD, Diploma, Master, M.Phill. This PhD program offer by Department of Clinical Psychology at CIP. The department works in the area of patient care, teaching, research, resource development and community service. The department officially started in 1949 and it happens to have the first Clinical Psychology laboratory in the country. Psychoanalysis was used as a method of treating personality disorders and use of habit formation charts was in vogue since 1924. Over the years, the department has achieved various milestones in the field of teaching, training, research and clinical services.

Department Achievements:

• Establishment of behavior therapy room in 1950s
• Start of Diploma in Medical and Social Psychology in 1962 which was later named as M. Phil in Medical and Social Psychology and currently called as M. Phil in Clinical Psychology
• Start of Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1972
• Initiation of Suicide prevention Helpline and Suicide Prevention Clinic in 2013

Academic Activities:

• It conducts weekly academic exercises for the students of Clinical Psychology.
• These academic programs include departmental seminars, psychotherapy meetings and regular classes for M. Phil & Ph.D students as well as for students of other disciplines such as Psychiatry, Psychiatric Social Work and Psychiatric Nursing.
• These classes are based on the course curriculum and include teaching with the use of audio-visual materials.
• The trainees are required to present and participate in departmental case conferences, seminars and journal clubs.

Training & Research:

• The clinical training includes working with patients in both the in-patient as well as out-patient settings.
• Training is given to developing competency in diverse psychological assessments and psychotherapies.
• The trainees receive one-on-one supervision from faculty with respect to patient care, psychological assessments and psychotherapies.
• The trainees undergo rotation in various specialities to get an exposure to specialty areas in Clinical Psychology.
• The trainees are also required to submit a dissertation on a research topic under a Guide during which they receive exposure to clinical research.
• The trainees are encouraged to participate in various workshops, training and conferences to enhance their skills.

Clinical Services:

• The department provides clinical services to patients referred from different wards of the institute as well as caters to the out patients at the dedicated Psycho-social Unit.
• The services include Psycho-diagnostic assessments, Neuropsychological assessments, Psychoeducation, various modes of Psychotherapy & rehabilitation.
• It has also extend its services to the community by being part of the School Mental Health Program run at the community Extension Clinics at West Bokaro & Hazaribagh.

Clinical Psychology Laboratory:

• The laboratory provides facilities for conducting experiments, psychological testing and qualitative research.
• It enables students to carryout computer based experiments and social experiments.
• It is well stacked with various tests for assessment of cognitive functions, personality, and other domains of human behaviour.
• In the last few years some of the new additions to its tools have been the Cambridge Automated Test Battery (CANTAB), Computerized WCST, Computerized Rorschach interpretation, POSIT Science software for Neuro-Rehabilitation, WISC-IV India & WAIS-IV India.

Psycho Social Unit:

• This unit is to target individuals with psychological and social problems.
• The clients can directly visit the unit for consultation. The unit also receives referrals from the patients visiting the out-patient department.
• The services offered are counselling, psychotherapy and psycho-diagnostics.
• The common diagnosis are assessed and/or managed at the unit; includes childhood depression, Learning problems, Autism, Intellectual Disability, Suicide, Dementia, Anxiety Disorders, Epilepsy, Headache, family conflicts/problems, substances use disorders, Sexual disorders and many more.
• It also has two special clinics dedicated to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) every Wednesday & Suicide Prevention every Saturday.

Eligibility

• Applicants should have completed Master of Arts/ M.Sc in Psychology course from a university recognized by UGC with minimum 55% marks for Unreserved (UR) & EWS and 50% marks for SC, ST, OBC in aggregate.
• All India Entrance exam will be held at different locations like Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ranchi.
• Shortlisted candidates will be scheduled for interview/ practical at CIP in Ranchi.

Minimum Education