Although, emotional cues like facial emotion expressions seem to be important in social interaction, there is limited specific training about emotional cues for psychology professions.

Here, we aimed to evaluate psychologist’, psychological counselors’ and psychiatrists’ ability of facial emotion recognition and compare these groups.

One hundred and forty-one master degree students of clinical psychology and 105 psychiatrists who identified themselves as psychopharmacologists were asked to perform facial emotion recognition test after filling out socio-demographic questionnaire. The facial emotion recognition test was constructed by using a set of photographs (happy, sad, fearful, angry, surprised, disgusted, and neutral faces) from Ekman and Friesen's.

Psychologists were significantly better in recognizing sad facial emotion than psychopharmacologists (6.23 ± 1.08 vs 5.80 ± 1.34 and P = 0.041). Psychological counselors were significantly better in recognizing sad facial emotion than psychopharmacologists (6.24 ± 1.01 vs 5.80 ± 1.34 and P = 0.054). Psychologists were significantly better in recognizing angry facial emotion than psychopharmacologists (6.54 ± 0.73 vs 6.08 ± 1.06 and P = 0.002). Psychological counselors were significantly better in recognizing angry facial emotion than psychopharmacologists (6.48 ± 0.73 vs 6.08 ± 1.06 and P = 0.14).

We have revealed that the pyschologist and psychological counselors were more accurate in recognizing sad and angry facial emotions than psychopharmacologists. We considered that more accurate recognition of emotional cues may have important influences on patient doctor relationship. It would be valuable to investigate how these differences or training the ability of facial emotion recognition would affect the quality of patient–clinician interaction.

The aim of this study was to clarify, using a nationwide survey, what is perceived as necessary knowledge and skills for psychologists involved in cancer palliative care in Japan, the expectations of medical staff members, and the degree to which these expectations are met.

We conducted a questionnaire survey of psychologists involved in cancer palliative care. A total of 419 psychologists from 403 facilities were asked to fill out the questionnaire and return it anonymously. Some 401 psychologists (89 males, 310 females, and 2 unspecified; mean age, 37.2  ±  9.5 years) responded about necessary knowledge and skills for psychologists working in cancer palliative care, the necessity for training, expectations at their current workplace, and the degree to which expectations are met.

More than 90% of participants responded that many kinds of knowledge and skills related to the field of cancer palliative care are necessary. Over 80% of participants indicated a necessity for training related to these knowledge and skills. Although more than 50% (range, 50.1–85.8%) of participants responded that such services as “cooperation with medical staff within a hospital,” “handling patients for whom psychological support would be beneficial,” and “assessment of patients' mental state” were expected at their workplace, fewer than 60% (31.4–56.9%) responded that they actually performed these roles.

Our results show that many psychologists in cancer palliative care feel unable to respond to the expectations at their current workplace and that they require more adequate knowledge and skills related to cancer palliative care to work effectively. No other nationwide surveys have generated this type of information in Japan, so we believe that the results of our study are uniquely important.

In a primary health-care centre (PHCC) situated in a segregated area with low socio-economic status, ‘primary care triage’ has increased efficiency and accessibility. In the primary-care triage, the nurse sorts the patient to the appropriate PHCC profession according to described symptoms.

The aim of this study was to examine the patients’ experience of being triaged directly to a psychologist for assessment.

Interviews were conducted with 20 patients and then analysed using qualitative content analysis.

The results show that patients contacting the PHCC for mental health issues often are active agents with their own intent to see a psychologist, not a doctor, as a first-hand choice when contacting the PHCC. Seeking help for mental health issues is described as a sensitive issue that demands building up strength before contacting. The quick access to the preferred health-care professional is appreciated. The nurse was perceived as a caring facilitator rather than a decision maker. It is the patient's wish rather than the symptoms that directs the sorting. The patients’ expectations when meeting the psychologist were wide and diverse. The structured assessment sometimes collided and sometimes united with these expectations, yielding different outcome satisfaction. The results could be seen in line with the present goal to increase patients’ choice in the health-care system. The improved accessibility to the psychologist seems to meet community expectations. The results also indicate a need for providing more prior information about the assessment and potential outcomes.