Chapter 1
Dan Moor drove into the parking lot at University Hospital and pulled into an empty space facing the building. He switched off the engine and sat behind the wheel, staring at the psychiatric wing. Of average height and build, Dan’s sandy colored hair bordered on unruly. He ran his fingers through it now, feelings of anticipation and apprehension making his stomach churn.
The year is 2050 and Dan has just graduated from the Optimizers Pre-residency Program for psychiatry. The Optimizers program was developed some three decades ago as a special training program for those wanting to become psychiatrists. Only the top students can compete for the optimizers program after graduating from medical school.
The scientific leap forward in brain research over the last four decades has put psychiatry in the forefront of medical disciplines. Brain medicine involves mastering advanced knowledge from mathematics and physics of complex systems, so it was inevitable that a special training program would be developed to keep pace with advances in the field.
Dan reached into the back seat and picked up his briefcase. In an effort to calm himself as he left the car, he focused on the elements that constituted the basic sciences of the four-year pre-psychiatry program—neural computation, neuroscience and computer-generated signal analysis of imaging devices. Non-linear higher-level mathematics had become indispensable in psychiatry.
Unlike other medical doctors, psychiatrists are now called optimizers. This is partly because they were required to graduate from the optimizers program but more because curing mental disorders involves optimizing brain functions, especially those functions of higher levels.
Approaching the psychiatric department, Dan could see Dr O’Connor through the glass doors. Tall, dark and immaculate with piercing grey eyes, he was an imposing figure. He was also Dan’s appointed supervisor for the first twelve months of his residency. Beside him was Professor Krauss, whose white hair and twinkling eyes made him appear more like a benevolent grandfather than a professor with more than forty years experience in psychiatry. Although retired, he still visited the department regularly, offering his wealth of experience in clinical supervision. Professor Krauss had heard lectures from great psychiatry authors dating back to the pre-optimizers era, even before the introduction of Theoretical Psychiatry[1], having graduated from what was then called a biological psychiatry residency.
The professor’s presence reassured Dan and dispelled the last of his anxiety. After they exchanged greetings, Dr O’Connor informed him that he would receive his first patients soon. ‘In the meantime,’ advised Dr O’Connor, ‘you might like to go over your IVI procedures.’
Professor Krauss accompanied Dan to the staff lounge. There were a number of small offices adjoining the lounge and one had Dan’s name in the slot on the door. Dan put his briefcase away and rejoined the professor in the lounge, where they discussed the three basic phases for optimization in the treatment of mental disorders—Investigation, Validation and Intervention. They both looked up when Dr O’Connor appeared in the doorway.
‘Dr Moor, we will see three new admissions now,’ he said.
Dan looked at the professor who nodded and said, ‘We will talk again.’
‘I look forward to it,’ smiled Dan and walked briskly to the ward with Dr O’Connor.
‘They were admitted last night,’ said the doctor as he increased his speed. ‘You will be able to start the Investigation phase for these patients right away.’