This report reviews the range of roles and responsibilities
that are undertaken by consultant psychiatrists in psychotherapy.
It sets out three core principles:
- Consultant psychiatrists in
psychotherapy have a range of roles.
- Consultant psychiatrists in
psychotherapy bring to multidisciplinary teams the knowledge,
responsibility and ethos associated with the medical
profession.
- Consultant psychiatrists in
psychotherapy bring specific psychotherapeutic expertise to
multidisciplinary teams.
In clinical work these principles
mean that consultant psychiatrists in psychotherapy assess and
manage complex cases, deal with issues of risk and take special
responsibility for patients with a combination of medical and
psychological issues. Supervision and management of clinical teams
are also important clinical tasks.
The important teaching role is
discussed in relation to both undergraduate and postgraduate
medical education and the education of professions allied to
medicine.
Strategic advisory and clinical
governance responsibilities are discussed and the particular remit
to bring a psychologically minded approach to these discussions is
highlighted.
Finally, the report highlights the
future development of the role in relation to the changing role of
medical consultants within the health service. It stresses the
importance of developing a capacity for flexible ways of working
employing a range of therapeutic modalities, learning new
evidence-based therapies and participating in the research base for
and development of new treatments. Additionally, the changing
structure of adult psychiatry is discussed in relation to
developing therapeutic roles for consultant psychiatrists in
psychotherapy more generally including involvement in developments
such as assertive outreach, crisis intervention and home treatment
teams.
(This report replaces both CR75.
Development of Psychological Therapy Services: Role of the
Consultant Psychotherapist from 1999 and CR98. Role and
contribution of the consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy in the
NHS from 2002.)