With the recent change in the format of the MRCPsych examinations, it seems an opportune time to consider a more radical change to the curriculum: specifically, the inclusion of physical healthcare syllabic content as part of the core medical knowledge items.
Why is it that when the core curriculum for all acute medicine/medicine trainees (Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, 2007) contain mandatory components dealing with psychiatric illness, do we feel that we are exempt from including physical health from our membership exams?
I have often heard colleagues bemoan the lack of awareness of mental health issues among non-psychiatric medical colleagues, but I feel it is incumbent on all of us to get our own collegiate house in order first.
Although we all have experience of dealing with physical health problems as part of our undergraduate training, and a minimum of 1 year's postgraduate experience, the skills and knowledge gained decay rapidly when used infrequently.
Perhaps the introduction of core topics into the MRCPsych curriculum such as the management of acute medical problems and the longer-term physical health problems associated with psychotropic use would go some way to remedy this.
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