PSYCHIATRISTS AND THEIR PATIENTS - VIEWS ON FORMS OF DRESS AND ADDRESS

Background Dress styles and forms of address vary among psychiatrists. Method A semi-structured interview was administered to a sample of ps ychiatric in-patients, and a questionnaire was sent to junior and cons ultant psychiatrists, to identify preferences for dress styles and ter ms of address. Results Forty-nine (7l%) of the inpatient sample partic ipated. A preference was found for smart attire and white coats. Of th e 69 (80%) doctors returning questionnaires, the majority supported sm art dress as the most appropriate attire. Most patients preferred to b e called by their first name while addressing doctors by title and sur name. Junior doctors preferred to use first names when talking to pati ents while almost all consultants used title and surname. Doctors of a ll grades liked to be called by their title and surname. Conclusions P aying more attention to the way we present ourselves and interact al w ork may help to facilitate the therapeutic alliance.