"The menace of psychiatry": does it still ring a bell?

Paediatricians and psychiatrists working together: what works best?

“…For the most part, these examples come from inspired individuals who have helped create conjoint academic units, advocate for Consultation Liaison Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services, and describe the benefits of collaboration 13 15 30…”

“…By being available to provide consultative advice that is perceived as helpful, psychiatrists are able to expand their input that helps create a cultural shift that values their conceptual input to clinical diagnosis and decision making above that of psychotropic prescription and the management of ‘complex patients’ 6 15 25…”

Real medicine

“…On more than one occasion has a paediatrician asked the question of psychiatrists: ‘Why are they being so precious with their time?’ 7 A response to this might be: ‘Why are paediatricians so threatened by not being able to provide a quick fix?’ There are obvious contrasts between the ways in which a paediatrician and a psychiatrist might evaluate a patient, none more apparent than the time required in providing appropriate assessment. Although each may be assessing the same person, the information desired, the way it is elicited and verified, the professional's interaction with the patient, the patient's willingness for assessment by the clinician and many other aspects differ substantially.…”

“…Paediatric consultation/liaison (CL) psychiatry is the term used to describe the service provided by psychiatrists who work primarily within a paediatric medical setting 7,9 . For those fortunate enough to work alongside such a service, the benefits are obvious and many 10 .…”

“…For those fortunate enough to work alongside such a service, the benefits are obvious and many 10 . However, as pointed out by Sebastian Kraemer, paediatricians who lack the experience of successful partnerships with psychiatry are in no position to advocate for the support they require 7 . Perhaps the most important element of an effective collaboration between paediatrics and CL psychiatry is the opportunity for professionals from both disciplines to work literally side by side.…”