Psychiatry
A Career In Psychiatry
In the past, Psychiatry has not been the most popular of subjects. Mental illness was seen as scary; talking about it was taboo. The stigma that surrounded its sufferers surrounded its carers too. Students were discouraged from making Psychiatry their career.
All that is changing as society is able to admit just how widespread mental health problems are. Governments have committed new funds to dedicated mental health services and the psychological component to all illness has been recognised. The science of Psychiatry has breached new frontiers; treatment is now overwhelmingly optimistic.
Not surprisingly, competition for training posts is fierce. Psychiatry has one of the largest groups of trainees in Medicine with over 1000 NTNs in England alone. Foundation year posts are proliferating throughout the UK with glowing reports of experience within them. And the changes in training have suited us best. The communication skills being taught at foundation level are central to our subject and most easily learnt in psychiatric placements.
We keep options open as long as possible between the various subspecialties of Psychiatry and other areas of Medicine so that the consultants we produce are more flexible in outlook and practice. The first part of our Membership exam is currently taken after about 18 months of the six year training and the second part around 3 years; but they may be broken down in the future into smaller modules to sit alongside clinical assessment in the field.
Do you remember why you came into Medicine in the first place? I do. It was to capture that synthesis between science and the humanities that psychiatry most clearly represents. Psychiatric research reaches down to the molecular level but diagnosis draws its evidence from every aspect of the patient's life. Psychiatry offers the chance to learn leadership skills within multi-disciplinary teams, coordinated across hospital and community, specialty and primary care.
Whilst refining its techniques, Psychiatry keeps open debate at every ethical, intellectual and cultural interface. The syllabus is huge but trainees are encouraged to follow in-depth studies of their own interest. And the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is there to look after its 12,000 members from student affiliateship through to consultancy, provides opportunities to look at different approaches in services overseas. In other words, psychiatry is "doctoring" in its broadest sense.
One word of warning. In psychiatry, there are often no barriers between you and the patient. You can't hold distress at stethoscope's length. You may not be able to examine it with a scan; you may not be able to treat it with a pill. That can be disturbing for the doctor too. But if you can't fact that, should you be in Medicine at all?
For further information and details take a look at the following website:
> Royal College of Psychiatrists
Dr Mike Shooter
Past President
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Last updated 25/12/06
| |
