Qualities of a good psychiatrist

Abstract

Purpose: Pilot quantitative studies in Singapore established various themes relating to the qualities of a good psychiatrist and suggested potential differences of opinion between patients and psychiatrists regarding the qualities of a good psychiatrist. We aimed to validate the results from pilot quantitative surveys and explore differences between patients and psychiatrists regarding the qualities of a good psychiatrist. Material and method: Transcripts of recorded interviews with 21 voluntary psychiatric inpatients and 18 psychiatrists were coded and analyzed thematically using a thematic analysis and modified grounded theory approach. Results: The qualities of a good psychiatrist are not seen in abstraction but rather viewed in the context of his motivations, functions, methods and results obtained. Psychiatrists were seen as distinct from other doctors. There were different types of psychiatrists whom required different qualities and psychiatrists as a group were expected to be the best qualified to treat psychiatric patients. The psychiatrists' demographic qualities influenced the subjective representation of a psychiatrist to a patient and unexpected demographic qualities (e.g. being Caucasian, public or private sector) had potentially profound effects. Patient and psychiatrists had a common understanding about the qualities of a good psychiatrist but significant differences remained as patients and psychiatrists saw their relationship from different perspectives. Conclusion: Psychiatrists could use the framework of motivations, functions, methods and results obtained as a heuristic tool to appreciate their profession and should proactively seek to address issues that cause a divergence between patients and psychiatrists on the qualities of a good psychiatrist via open discussion with the public and other stakeholders. Additional research on the qualities of a good psychiatrist should be performed on outpatients and involuntarily admitted patients and the framework for qualities of a good psychiatrist could inform psychiatric intake selection, training, continuing psychiatric education and assessment of psychiatrists.