The College recognises the important and valid
contribution made by pharmaceutical companies and other commercial
organisations to patient care, to research and to education. The
assumption that commercial sponsorship is necessary or inevitable,
however, should always be examined critically. The decision to
accept sponsorship should only be taken after considering
alternatives, such as securing alternative funding sources or
reducing the level of industry-sponsored educational events.
This document provides guidance on the
boundaries of good practice by examining relationships with
pharmaceutical and other commercial organisations for the following
three areas:
- Individual psychiatrists
- Research undertaken by psychiatrists
- College activities.
The discussion for each area is divided into:
purpose, principles, guidance and specific recommendations.
Among others, issues addressed by the report
include: the register of members’ competing interests,
company-organised meetings, gifts, hospitality, sponsored meeting
attendance, research funding, consultancy work, educational grants
and prizes.
There are two useful appendices:
- Appendix 1: Guidance on the production of
College newsletters.
- Appendix 2: Notes on completion of the
declaration of competing interests and a sample ‘Declaration of
competing interests form’.
This document replaces CR117: Good
Psychiatric Practice: Interim guidance on the relationship between
psychiatrists and commercial sponsors and the sponsorship of
College activities (online-only) from 2003.