ARE PSYCHIATRIC TRAINEES WHO TAKE ON PSYCHOTHERAPY CASES DOING MORE-OR-LESS RESEARCH - A SURVEY OF CURRENT INVOLVEMENT

Postgraduate psychiatric training requires the trainee to develop expe rience in conducting research and treating patients psychotherapeutica lly. Concern has been expressed within the Royal College of Psychiatri sts that it may be difficult for trainees to achieve a balance between these training requirements whilst attempting to continue their ordin ary clinical duties. A questionnaire survey was conducted on psychiatr ic trainees at registrar level currently undergoing training within th e South Thames (West) Regional rotational training scheme. The aim of the study was to determine whether trainees' activity in research and psychotherapy were related in any way. The results show that most trai nees are able to successfully balance becoming involved in research wi th psychotherapy experience. There was no evidence that psychotherapy experience had a deleterious effect on research experience or vice ver sa.