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Communication skills training for psychiatrists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Philippa Ditton-Phare ,
Brian Kelly  and
Carmel L. Loughland
Philippa Ditton-Phare
Affiliation:
School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Brian Kelly
Affiliation:
School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Carmel L. Loughland
Affiliation:
School of Medicine & Public Health, Faculty of Health & Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 210 , Issue 6 , June 2017 , pp. 438
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2017 

It is encouraging to see studies emerge regarding communication skills training for psychiatrists. Reference McCabe, John, Dooley, Healey, Cushing and Kingdon1 Although the authors claim that this is the first study to test an intervention for psychiatrists to enhance communication with patients with psychosis, we would like to draw readers' attention to other work that has been published in this area. In Australia, since 2013, an advanced communication skills training programme for postgraduate psychiatry trainees (ComPsych) has been part of psychiatry trainees' formal postgraduate education. Reference Ditton-Phare, Halpin, Sandhu, Kelly, Vamos and Outram2 This focuses on improving doctor–patient communication about schizophrenia diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Two pilot studies have been published about this programme: evaluating trainees' attitudes and self-efficacy regarding the programme and their confidence in their own communication skills; Reference Loughland, Kelly, Ditton-Phare, Sandhu, Vamos and Outram3 and an objective evaluation of their skills using standardised patient assessments. Reference Ditton-Phare, Sandhu, Kelly, Kissane and Loughland4 It is our hope to continue this important work, and we are encouraged to also see the work done by the authors of this paper.

References

1 McCabe, R, John, P, Dooley, J, Healey, P, Cushing, A, Kingdon, D, et al. Training to enhance psychiatrist communication with patients with psychosis (TEMPO): cluster randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2016; 209: 517–24.Google Scholar
2 Ditton-Phare, P, Halpin, S, Sandhu, H, Kelly, B, Vamos, M, Outram, S, et al. Communication skills in psychiatry training. Australas Psychiatry 2015; 23: 429–31.Google Scholar
3 Loughland, C, Kelly, B, Ditton-Phare, P, Sandhu, H, Vamos, M, Outram, S, et al. Improving clinician competency in communication about schizophrenia: a pilot educational program for psychiatry trainees. Acad Psychiatry 2015; 39: 160–4.Google Scholar
4 Ditton-Phare, P, Sandhu, H, Kelly, B, Kissane, D, Loughland, C. Pilot evaluation of a communication skills training program for psychiatry residents using standardized patient assessment. Acad Psychiatry 2016; 40: 768–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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