THE PROFESSIONAL CONCEPTS OF CHILD AND AD OLESCENT PSYCHIATRISTS IN FORMER WEST-GERMANY

For this study the authors prepared a questionaire for 662 child and y outh psychiatrists with a return quota of 45%. Careerwise most medical doctors - working as psychiatrists and psychotherapists with an equal distribution in hospitals and offices - acquired further special trai ning and education, particularly in Pediatrics, Psychotherapy and Auto genous Training. Work performance meets general agreement: a noticeabl e lack of corresponding doctors offices, mainly due to the economic si tuation. Unequivocal agreement exists concerning the necessity of diag nosis, the necessity of out-patient and in-patient therapy, as well th e necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation. The views, however, on t he quality of cooperation and the hierarchy within the team show diffe rences. Views on self-concept almost equally determined an identificat ion as doctor and as psychotherapist. The main professional motivation s were enjoyment, success and ability. The professional concept was un vocally agreed upon. The survey revealed a poor reputation of child an d adolescent psychiatrists. Professional basics include preserving the complexity in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry including medical assignments onesidedness rejected. Conflicts arise concerning the ''professional self concept'', resulting from the thin line betwee n the required separation of child and adolescent psychiatry and assoc iated professions and the required cooperation with associated profess ions.