The Scientific Practitioner in Psychiatry for the 21st Century

Abstract

Objective: To argue that practical research experience should be a requirement for postgraduate training in psychiatry in Australasia. Conclusions:It is acknowledged that at present there is only indirect evidence to support the authors' views, but insufficient evidence is not equivalent to negative evidence. In addition, the ideal study is a prospective, preferably randomized comparative study of trainees who do and who do not have practical research experience during training, with a range of subjective and objective outcomes assessed. It is argued that we cannot afford to wait until such a study is completed and lose a generation of trainees who will not be exposed to more than 'lectures' on research during their postgraduate years. It is believed that removing such practical research experience from a postgraduate training programme would be a retrograde step, and out of line with other medical colleges and clinical training in cognate disciplines. In the longer term this could result in psychiatry being seen as less able to evaluate its own clinical practice, and psychiatrists as less able to practice evidence-based medicine.

Attitudes of Psychiatrists in South Australia Towards Research Degrees

“…The RANZCP does not require a dissertation to qualify for Fellowship, and thus the majority of psychiatry trainees have conducted no research whatsoever as part of their training. 6 Locally, at the University of Adelaide, this has had serious implications for the academic discipline of psychiatry, with a lack of suitably qualified psychiatrists able to apply for and win an academic post.…”

Academics of the Future? A Survey of Final Year Medical Students

“…Recent figures from the UK indicate that 10–20% of senior medical academic posts are vacant, and that the medical academic workforce is ageing 2 , 3 . These shortages in academic staff are not unique to psychiatry, but affect other medical specialties as well 4 …”

Research productivity of staff in NHS mental health trusts: comparison using the Leiden method

“…For employees, integration of research and clinical practice is correlated with greater job satisfaction and personal satisfaction. 17 , 18 Underperforming trusts should consider whether greater resources are needed to support relevant research. Clinically relevant research and good-quality audit is an important way to improve patient care by developing and testing new innovations, but too often good work does not get published.…”