Proposal for a model psychopharmacology curriculum for psychiatric residents in Germany

Abstract

All German societies of medicine have been ordered by the Federal Association of Physicians (Bundesärztekammer) to propose new revised regulations for the education of residents. The German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (DGPPN) is offering a broad extension of education in psychotherapy while education in pharmacotherapy is still rather small and limited. The working group Biological Psychiatry of the German Association of Psychiatric Hospitals (Bundesdirektorenkonferenz, BDK) suggests a detailed proposal of a psychopharmacology curriculum based on a Delphi method consent of medical directors involved in the education of the majority of German psychiatric residents. Issues include general pharmacology, neurobiological principles, clinical pharmacology of different classes of psychotropics (antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, anxiolytics, hypnotics, stimulants etc.), special aspects (e.g. pregnancy, geriatric patients) as well as ethical, legal and economic aspects. About 160 hours of theoretical education are proposed, clinical teaching should be interactive, with vignettes and supervision covering about 300 hours.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.