Some psychiatrists should continue to directly provide psychological therapies

Fitzgerald ¹ suggests that psychiatrists should not directly provide psychological therapies. There are a number of reasons why some of them should.

First, specialist experience in delivering psychological therapies may strengthen the skill of a psychiatrist in choosing when and how to use psychopharmacology. A psychiatrist’s experience in administering both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology may improve their ability to judge when to commence, combine or cease either treatment. ² Indeed, the New Ways of Working for Psychiatrists report ³ predicted an increase in the need for support from consultant psychiatrists in psychotherapy for individuals with complex problems.

Second, some individuals may need difficult risk assessments while receiving psychotherapy. The different career path of a psychiatrist to that of a psychotherapist may make them better suited to make these assessments.

As for the financial cost of psychiatrists providing psychotherapy being ‘prohibitive’, Layard et al ⁴ have argued that the implementation of NICE guidelines requiring psychological therapies may be self-financing when the effect of depression and anxiety disorders on the wider economy is taken into account.