The importance of psychiatry in undergraduate medical education in India

Impact of psychiatry training on attitude of medical students toward mental illness and psychiatry

“…The treatment gap that exists in treating the persons with mental illness, due to an inadequate number of mental health professionals, especially psychiatrists, can be narrowed if the newly trained doctors have the acumen to spot those having a mental illness. [ 8 ] The knowledge and the attitude of the undergraduate medical students toward mental health and psychiatric disorders is of great importance as these individuals are going to be involved in the care of these patients either directly or indirectly during the course of their careers. Studies carried out to find out undergraduate medical students’ OMI and their knowledge toward psychiatry have shown ignorance about scientific facts related to psychiatry, psychiatric patients, and treatment methods.…”

Five-year plans and once-in-a-decade interventions: Need to move from filling gaps to bridging chasms in mental health care in India

“…[13] The TC noted that although the Medical Council of India in 2011 had enhanced the curriculum and posting, this was not being uniformly followed. [2]…”

Attitude of interns towards mental illness and psychiatry: A study from two medical colleges in South India

“…In USA, there is 60 hrs of teaching during the first two years, 30 hrs of practical teaching n the third year and 8 weeks of clinical postings in the final year. In Sri Lanka and Nepal, passing in psychiatry examination is mandatory to be qualified for a medical degree (Kallivayalil, 2012). In India, the duration of psychiatry lectures and clinical postings is much less compared to the National needs (Chawla et al, 2012) and the time allotted is just 1.4 % of the total time (Thirunavukarasu and Thirunavaukarau, 2010).…”