OBJECTIVE Psychiatry is a low-risk specialisation; however, there is a steady increase in malpractice claims against psychiatrists. Defensive psychiatry (DP) refers to any action undertaken by a psychiatrist to avoid malpractice liability that is not for the sole benefit of the patient's mental health and well-being. The objectives of this study were to assess the scope of DP practised by psych...

BACKGROUND Although there is evidence of a relationship between religion/spirituality and mental health, it remains unclear how Brazilian psychiatrists deal with the religion/spirituality of their patients. AIMS To explore whether Brazilian psychiatrists enquire about religion/spirituality in their practice and whether their own beliefs influence their work. METHOD Four hundred and eighty-f...

The Indian Psychiatric Society is the main and only organisation in our country which has been looking into all aspects related to psychiatry. We, the members of the society many times introspect whether our organisation is fulfilling what we expect it to do and also our role in improving the image of our society. The Psychiatric Society is the proper forum for having liaison with other interna...

Over the past 20 years, the previously frowned upon combination of pharmacotherapy and psychoanalytic or psychodynamic therapy has become common practice because of both findings from the neurosciences that demonstrate hardwired brain development from chronic early stress and trauma and from efficacy studies that show the superiority of combined therapy over either psychotherapy or medication a...

BACKGROUND An increasing number of genetic causes of intellectual disabilities (ID) are identifiable by clinical genetic testing, offering the prospect of bespoke patient management. However, little is known about the practices of psychiatrists and their views on genetic testing. METHOD We undertook an online survey of 215 psychiatrists, who were contacted via the Royal College of Psychiatris...

BACKGROUND despite evidence of limited efficacy, psychotropic medications are widely used as a first line treatment for those with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Clearly various factors must be influencing their continued use; these are explored here. AIMS to examine the process by which consultant old age psychiatrists prescribe for BPSD and explore the factors th...

BACKGROUND French general practitioners (GPs) refer their patients with major depression to psychiatrists or for psychotherapy at particularly low rates. OBJECTIVES This qualitative study aims to explore general practitioners' (GP) opinions about psychotherapy, their relationships with mental health professionals, their perceptions of their role and that of psychiatrists in treating depressio...

OBJECTIVES To assess the knowledge of and attitudes towards ECT among psychiatrists and family physicians in Saudi Arabia. METHODS The study is quantitative observational cross-sectional with a convenient sample that included psychiatrists and family physicians (including residents) in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS Of the 434 questionnaires emailed, a total of 126 returned completed questionnaires ...

Aims and method To explore experiences of psychiatrists considering medication for patients with personality disorder by analysis of transcribed, semi-structured interviews with consultants. Results Themes show important relational processes in which not prescribing is expected to be experienced as uncaring rejection, and psychiatrists felt helpless and inadequate as doctors when unable to reli...

OBJECTIVE To compare the opinions of Canadian psychiatrists regarding dissociative disorder diagnoses with those of previously surveyed American psychiatrists. METHOD We sent a 1-page questionnaire to a stratified representative sample of 550 Canadian psychiatrists. RESULTS Eighty percent of Canadian psychiatrists responded. Fewer than one-third replied that dissociative amnesia and dissoci...