Psychiatric training for family doctors: What do GP registrars want and can a brief course provide this?

Context About 40% of British General Practitioners (GPs) train formally in a psychiatric post as part of their general practice training, but such tra ining may not fully meet the needs of future GPs. A specific course in psyc hiatry for family doctors has run in Manchester for more than a decade. Method Semi-structured interviews conducted with GP registrars before atten ding the Manchester course in psychiatry with questionnaire follow-up after wards to ascertain (a) the training 'wants' of GP registrars and (b) whethe r the course was providing them. Results GP registrars most frequently wanted training in communication skil ls, how to access the resources that are available to GPs, the detection of psychiatric illness, drug treatment and the management of aggression. The course was successful in satisfying the first three but failed in the last two. There was-trend for those who attended Manchester Medical School, whic h scored significantly higher on number of topics covered at undergraduate level, to perceive a greater need for training than those who attended othe r medical schools. However, there was no evidence to Link self-perception o f greater need with having already worked in general practice during postgr aduate training. Conclusions More attention needs to be paid to how to address the specific mental health skills training requirements of GP registrars both within the attachment in psychiatry and during the practice year. Preliminary researc h is required to devise reaching packages before they are entirely satisfac tory for GP education.