Psychiatry's and Psychiatrists’ Contract with Society

Abstract

Introduction

The World Psychiatric Association (WPA) is a world-wide association of national psychiatric associations, aiming to increase knowledge and skills necessary for work in the field of mental health and care of the mentally ill. It was suggested that Psychiatry's relationship with society should be seen as a contract [1]. This implicit understanding usually specifies the scope, principles, quality and outcome of this agreement. It also implies a series of reciprocal rights and duties, privileges and obligations, as well as expectations from both sides.

Aim

To investigate the extent of existing social contracting of WPA Member Associations (MAs) and WPA structures regarding:

– communities they serve;

– general public;

– medical institutions;

– other practitioner groups in the multidisciplinary team;

– administrations, managers and funders.

Objectives

Include to describe the current scope of psychiatric practice across WPA regions and the content of existing social contracts.

Methods

A mixed–methods, explorative, descriptive, theory generating inquiry, with different phases, including a systematic review of literature and WPA documentation, electronic questionnaires to MAs and focus group discussions with WPA ZS chairs/representatives.

Results

MA profiles and progress indicators were identified and summarised. A transcription of group discussions was made, while pertaining documents, questionnaires and in depth/focus group interview content was analysed.

Conclusions

This presentation will report on progress with this study to date.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.