Psychodynamic Psychiatry Education and Training for Health Care Staff in the Acute Hospital Setting

Abstract

Aims

Psychodynamic psychiatry training seminars are a blended supervision and experiential style approach to training health care professionals in reflective practice and formulation. They apply psychodynamic theory through case formulations, seminars, and Balint groups so that healthcare staff can improve their communication style, formulation skills and enhance their appreciation for patients with complex mental health problems. Our aim is to evaluate the provision of our psychodynamic psychiatry training sessions for healthcare staff in the Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust, and to evaluate the perceived benefits of attending in terms of personal and professional development.

Methods

Convenience sampling was used to recruit CUH doctors, nurses, and healthcare assistants at all stages of training as part of their in-house teaching schedule. Sessions were delivered via an online format or in person. The evaluation period was between October 2021 and July 2022. Data were gathered via a survey tool, adapted from the literature using Likert scales and free text questions to identify barriers and facilitators to the sessions

Results

Thirty-three participants responded to our survey, with the sample consisting of gastroenterology (n = 4), acute medicine (n = 6), and emergency medicine doctors (n = 10). The sample also included emergency department nurses (n = 8) and health care assistants (n = 5). included. Most respondents (>90%) described the experience of the sessions including the material covered as ‘Positive’ or ‘Very Positive’. All participants felt they were able to express themselves in the session and the majority (>97%) felt that the sessions were relevant to their training needs and focused on the right issues. Notably, most participants (>88%) felt the sessions enhanced their ability to recognise the importance of the therapeutic relationship, the emotional significance of symptoms as well as the impact of group dynamics on patient's presentations.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that these psychodynamic psychiatry training seminars provide an effective, safe, non-judgemental space for experimentation and interdisciplinary discussion to support healthcare staff management of complex patients. Our results support the expansion of this low-cost, high-value intervention for both the well-being and professional development of healthcare staff.