OVERVIEW

• The Department of Psychiatry at SMIMS was established in May 2000 and it offers undergraduate teaching for MBBS students, post-graduate training in Psychiatry for MD students and teaching of Psychology and Psychiatry to students of allied health sciences.
• The department deals with the study of epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioural disorders. The diseases that a psychiatrist commonly deals with are schizophrenia, depression, several types of anxiety disorders, substance used disorders, personality disorders and can be as varied as dementia, disorders of sexual function, or childhood disorders such as mental retardation, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• The department is also actively involved in research and has several ongoing research projects and has completed two ICMR funded projects. Community outreach is one of the department’s commitments to the people of Sikkim and also provides free of charge services to various drug de-addiction centres in the state.
• This department offers free treatment up to Rs. 20,000 to needy individuals upon presentation of required documents. In special circumstances, patient admission free of charge with the mentioned ceiling is subject to the discretion of the department head, particularly if it holds academic relevance

Key features

• Diagnosis and treatment of various psychiatric illnesses.
• Provides out-patient services every day except on Sundays, second Saturdays of the month and designated holidays.
• 24X7 emergency services ensured by a consultant at all times.
• Facilities for electroencephalography, electroconvulsive therapy as well as bio-feedback.
• Consultation liaison provided to other departments of the hospital.
  
• The department provides 15 beds in total, comprising 8 male beds and 7 female beds, for patients requiring hospitalization.
• Weekly visits to various de-addiction centres in and around Gangtok

Core competencies

• Treatment of all kinds of psychiatric disorders
• EEG
• Modified ECT
• Drug detoxification
• Psychometric evaluation for both adult and child.
• Psychotherapy for various psychological conditions.

Departmental Facilities

• Daily OPDs
• Specialty clinics- Geriatric clinic, De-addiction clinic, Child and Adolescent clinic,Marital and psychosexual clinic.
• Counselling for de-addiction, personality disorders,  academic stress, crisis situations
• One of the centers providing modified ECT
• Electroencephelograpy
• Best inpatient care in general ward and private suites

Collaborations

• The Department of Psychiatry at SMIMS works in collaboration with its counterpart at the STNM Hospital at Gangtok. Both undergraduate students and postgraduate trainees undergo rotations at the STNM Hospital and supplement their education in Psychiatry from the varied profiles of the clinical material present there.
• The Sikkim Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Nimtar has been in collaboration with our Department since 2004. The Department provides weekly free of cost visits to the centre and also in-patient treatment to those who require it.
• Similar MOU’s have been signed with two more de-addiction centres, namely - The Aho De-Addiction Centre at Mirakai and the Serenity De-Addiction Centre at Burtuk.
  
• Our Postgraduate trainees are sent to District Hospitals as a part of District Residency Programme.