World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission on Psychiatric Education in the 21st century

Psychiatric practice faces many challenges in the first quarter of 21st century. Society has transformed, as have training requirements and patient expectations, underlining an urgent need to look at educational programmes. Meanwhile, awareness has grown around psychiatric disorders and there are evolving workforce trends, with more women going to medical school and specialising in psychiatry. Trainee psychiatrists carry different expectations for work-life balance and are increasingly becoming conscious of their own mental health. A tendency to see health as a commodity and the litigious nature of society has elicited additional pressures for healthcare professionals. Cartesian mind-body dualism has created further complexity and this can often be frustrating for patients and care-partners alike. In many cultures across Asia and beyond, patients can present with physical symptoms to express underlying psychological distress with increasing physical investigations. Simultaneously, in various countries, a shift from asylums to community-based interventions and then home treatments have changed psychiatric care in remarkable ways. These changes have added to pressures faced by mental healthcare professionals. However, trainees and other mental healthcare professionals continue to receive similar training as they did a generation ago. The tensions and differences in ideology/orientation between different branches of psychiatry have made responses to patient needs challenging. Recognising that it is difficult to predict the future, this World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission makes recommendations that could help institutions and individuals enhance psychiatric education. This Commission draws from existing resources and recent developments to propose a training framework for future psychiatrists.

Automated summary

Psychiatric practice in the 21st century faces various challenges, including societal changes, evolving training requirements, and patient expectations. These challenges necessitate a reevaluation of educational programs. While awareness of psychiatric disorders has increased and more women are entering medical school and specializing in psychiatry, trainee psychiatrists also have different expectations for work-life balance and are increasingly conscious of their own mental health. The commodification of healthcare and litigious nature of society add additional pressures on healthcare professionals. Cartesian mind-body dualism and cultural differences often frustrate patients and care-partners. Changes in psychiatric care, such as the shift from asylums to community-based interventions and home treatments, also contribute to the pressures faced by mental healthcare professionals. However, current training for mental healthcare professionals remains largely unchanged. The tensions and differences between different branches of psychiatry make it challenging to respond to patient needs. The World Psychiatric Association-Asian Journal of Psychiatry Commission makes recommendations to enhance psychiatric education based on existing resources and recent developments.