Formalizing Palliative Training in Psychiatry Residency Programs

A Case for Increased Medical Student and Psychiatric Resident Education in Palliative Care

“…Few programs offered formalized training in palliative care, although nearly all surveyed residents reported interest in this area. Winer [12] pointed out that few psychiatry residents are able to participate in palliative care fellowship programs because the medicine requirements are beyond the scope of psychiatry training. Many programs are reluctant to consider applicants who are not fully trained in medicine, making the application process for palliative care fellowships even more complicated.…”

“…Horowitz and colleagues [6] proposed that basic palliative care competencies should be defined and integrated into each year of the medical school. Winer [12] noted that whereas psychiatry residents are more removed from death and dying than residents of other specialties, at the end of training, they are expected to address issues involving patients nearing the end of life. She also noted that psychiatry departments rarely have formal connections with palliative care programs at their institutions.…”