MEDICAL-TRAINING IN PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY - A PROPOSED CURRICULUM

During the coming decades, psychiatrists will be asked to participate to a greater extent in the physical evaluation and treatment of patien ts with behavioral or emotional problems. Despite the high frequency w ith which psychiatric symptoms are caused or exacerbated by organic di sease, psychiatrists have been reluctant, and in some ways, ever disco uraged to include physical assessments. Psychoanalysis and concerns ab out boundary issues have influenced psychiatrists to cede physical ass essment and physical illness to other physicians. To help overcome the se barriers to improved care of psychiatric patients, a curriculum is proposed for psychiatry residents. It will allow them to better use th eir medical backgrounds while increasing their contributions as mental health specialists. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.