Negin Eissazade1, Mohammadreza Shalbafan2, Mehrdad Eftekhar Ardebili2, Mariana Pinto da Costa3,4,5. 1. Students' Research Committee, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Mental Health Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development, Queen Mary University of London, Newham Centre for Mental Health, London, UK. 4. Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 5. Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Psychiatry's postgraduate training curriculum in Iran has been revised and one of the core revisions has been the incorporation of full-time 9-months of psychotherapy training. However, little is known about psychotherapy training in Iran. METHODS: An online anonymous survey was developed by the Early Career Psychiatrists (ECP) Section of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). The survey included 16 questions about the: (a) quality of psychotherapy training (supervision, type of psychotherapy training available, barriers in accessing training); (b) organizational aspects of psychotherapy training (compulsoriness, payment, and assessment); (c) satisfaction with training in psychotherapy; (d) self-confidence in the use of psychotherapy. This survey was circulated to Iranian early career psychiatrists and psychiatric trainees. RESULTS: 112 early career psychiatrists and psychiatric trainees from across Iran responded to the survey; 98.2% of which stated that psychotherapy training is included in their psychiatry training, and cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy were the most reported modalities integrated into their psychiatric training. Moreover, 43.3% of the participants reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their psychotherapy training during the training years. DISCUSSION: Psychotherapy is integrated into psychiatric training programs in most educational centers in Iran. The modalities and satisfaction of trainees are similar to that of high-income countries in other continents. Supervision and training in modalities like family therapy could be further implemented and adapted to the Iranian culture.
INTRODUCTION: Psychiatry's postgraduate training curriculum in Iran has been revised and one of the core revisions has been the incorporation of full-time 9-months of psychotherapy training. However, little is known about psychotherapy training in Iran. METHODS: An online anonymous survey was developed by the Early Career Psychiatrists (ECP) Section of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). The survey included 16 questions about the: (a) quality of psychotherapy training (supervision, type of psychotherapy training available, barriers in accessing training); (b) organizational aspects of psychotherapy training (compulsoriness, payment, and assessment); (c) satisfaction with training in psychotherapy; (d) self-confidence in the use of psychotherapy. This survey was circulated to Iranian early career psychiatrists and psychiatric trainees. RESULTS: 112 early career psychiatrists and psychiatric trainees from across Iran responded to the survey; 98.2% of which stated that psychotherapy training is included in their psychiatry training, and cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy were the most reported modalities integrated into their psychiatric training. Moreover, 43.3% of the participants reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their psychotherapy training during the training years. DISCUSSION: Psychotherapy is integrated into psychiatric training programs in most educational centers in Iran. The modalities and satisfaction of trainees are similar to that of high-income countries in other continents. Supervision and training in modalities like family therapy could be further implemented and adapted to the Iranian culture.