Undergraduate psychiatry in India: A SWOT analysis

Undergraduate Education in Psychiatry in India

“…Articles by Kallivayalil (2012) and Kumar et al (2018) provide insight into the evolution of undergraduate psychiatry training in India.…”

“…Thus, psychiatric training and exposure have received lesser attention in India as compared to other countries, and as compared to some of the other disciplines in India (Sagar, 2016.). Both Sri Lanka and Nepal give prominence to Psychiatry and medical students need to pass an examination in Psychiatry to qualify for medical degree (Kumar et al, 2018)…”

“…The students are required to submit reports of 5 detailed clinical cases with discussion on management. The students will also have to undergo a formal assessment at the end of clinical postings (Kumar et al, 2018).…”

“…An 8 weeks' full time posting in psychiatry was reduced to 6 weeks owing to shortage of staff. Psychiatry remains a major clinical subject and is examined in the final year (Kumar et al, 2018).…”

“…According to the current medical interns, the psychiatry ward remains obscure and a place to relax after the hectic postings of labour and the stress involved during training and while practising this profession (Menon et al, 2015). Orienting the resident to recognize depressive symptoms in themselves and their colleagues can go a long way in improving their perceptions (Kumar et al, 2018). Training in the undergraduate medical curriculum on enabling the residents to seek help when needed should be one of the objectives of postings in psychiatry.…”