European Federation Of Psychiatric Trainees Research Articles

Breaking barriers into the future of (publishing in) psychiatry: The new truly Open Access journal empowering trainees

The European Journal of Psychiatric Trainee is the official journal of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees. It is a fully open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal which will prioritize work by psychiatric trainees while also publishing a wide range of papers on mental health by other authors from diverse professional backgrounds. This editorial marks the first issue of the European Journal of Psychiatric Trainees and outlines its vision, mission and the articles this issue includes. It is the hope of the editorial board that this issue and the future ones reach a wide network of readers with original, informative and engaging papers.

Leadership skills perceptions in training – the EFPT perspective

AbstractLeadership in healthcare organisations is crucial to continually improve and provide adequate and quality care. Leadership development and training empower psychiatrists to develop leadership skills. Focusing on how to enhance leadership development through leadership skills training and experiential learning should be a priority.Nonetheless, there is a perception that, throughout Europe, the acquisition of basic or more advanced leadership skills is very seldom part of the professional training.In 2019, a Leadership Working Group (LWG) was set up within the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT). Its aim is to provide trainees an opportunity to develop their leadership skills.This presentation will show case some of the efforts by the LWG. A special focus will be given to a European-based cross-sectional survey of needs about leadership skills training in Psychiatry aimed at ECPs, that showed that a majority of ECPs had no access to leadership skills training within curricula and that all the respondents requested it to be included in a psychiatric training program in either optional or mandatory fashion.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

European federation of psychiatric trainees - Exchange Programme - appreciated by trainees in spite of language-related challenges

IntroductionDifferences in psychiatry training vary substantially across Europe. Such organisations as the European Federation of Psychiatry Trainees (EFPT), the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, and the European Psychiatry Association, have committed to offer international experiences based on the premise that it could foster international collaboration, aid early career professionals to progress professionally and spark discussion regarding different practices across Europe.To date, there are no studies that focus on the exchange experience in mental health professionals.ObjectivesWe present the synthesis of the first seven years answers from 2012 to 2019 to the post-exchange online evaluation form, which trainees had to fill in in order to receive an attendance certificate.MethodsThe present study analysed the answers of 182 psychiatry trainees or recent graduates who took part in the EFPT exchange program during 2012 and 2019 and filled in the internet-based evaluation form. The inclusion criteria were currently in training or recently finished training as a psychiatrist in Europe and filling in the questionnaire. The exclusion criterion was participation in the EFPT exchange program for the second or subsequent time.All trainees were systemically asked to complete the online evaluation form after the exchange period. The form includes sociodemographic, training in host country-related, and exchange experience-related questions. Experience measures were evaluated using the 4-point Likert scale. Data was anonymized before the analysis. The study followed the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.ResultsFrom the 198 individuals who filled the questionnaire, 182 were involved in final analyses. The majority of participants were females in the second half of their training. The average age was 29 years. The largest number of applicants were from Turkey, whereas the United Kingdom hosted the most participants. One-third of the participants had previous international exchange experience.Most trainees were exposed to both outpatient and inpatient treatment settings and were involved in educational or research activities. 96.7% of participants indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, 95.6% said that the exchange was useful or very useful, and 98.9% were likely or very likely to recommend exchange to colleagues. A description of trainees and exchange placements is presented in a table (couldn’t be uploaded).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the experience of psychiatry trainees who went on exchange during their professional training. Vast majority of trainees were satisfied with their exchange, thought it would be useful for their clinical practice and would recommend it to their colleagues. These findings are in line with other studies that examined medical exchange experiences .Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Refugees, war trauma and mental health: knowledge and experience from trainees and early career psychiatrists

IntroductionPsychiatry Across Borders working group of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees has the mission to improve psychiatric training in transcultural psychiatry and trauma-related topics in Europe. It started conducting a survey in 2016, to assess trainees’ experiences in forcibly displaced people mental health (Frankova et al. Transcult.Psychiatry, in press).ObjectivesTo investigate European psychiatric trainees’ and Early Career Psychiatrists’ (ECPs) training about trauma and refugees’ mental health, focusing on educational and clinical difficulties occurring while assisting war refugees or in Eastern Europe, due to the ongoing conflict.MethodsA new survey for European psychiatric trainees and ECPs was designed. A web questionnaire was shared through various channels, including social media, in September 2022. It included an informed consent form and investigated socio-demographic data, training in trauma and refugees’ mental health, clinical practice in war areas or with war refugees.ResultsAs of 16/10/22, 31 were the responders, mainly adult psychiatrists (93.6%). Although the 87.1% worked with forcibly displaced people, only 29% received a specific training, and 53.6% didn’t feel prepared to face war trauma-related disorders. However, 64.3% could reach out to a teamwork member specialized in the topic, and 72.2% to interpreters. The 67.7% worked with actual war refugees, mainly addressed to psychiatric services due to new onset of psychiatric symptoms, especially insomnia (66.7%), often diagnosed with Acute Stress Reaction (66.7%) and treated with psychiatric drugs (83.3%). Two colleagues working in war areas participated in the survey: both lost patients at follow-up and experienced increased workload or lack of means (i.e., drug supply) or support.ConclusionsThis survey can spot educational needs in transcultural psychiatry, helping to program targeted interventions for psychiatric trainees and ECPs, aimed at implementing clinical practice towards the common goal of social cohesion.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

European federation of psychiatric trainees - exchange programme - appreciated by trainees in spite of language-related challenges

European federation of psychiatric trainees - exchange programme - appreciated by trainees in spite of language-related challenges

Forcibly displaced persons and mental health: A survey of the experiences of Europe-wide psychiatry trainees during their training.

Many European countries have seen increasing refugee populations and asylum applications over the past decade. Forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) are known to be at higher risk of developing mental disorders and are in need of specific care. Thus, specific training for mental health professionals is recommended by international health organizations. The aim of this exploratory study was to assess the experience of clinical work with FDPs among psychiatric trainees in Europe and Central Asia as well as their interest and specific training received on this topic. An online questionnaire was designed by the Psychiatry Across Borders working group of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) and was distributed via email through local networks among European trainees from 47 countries between March 2017 and April 2019. Answers of 342 psychiatric trainees from 15 countries were included in the survey analysis. A majority of trainees (71%) had had contact with FDPs in the last year of their clinical work. Although three-quarters expressed a strong interest in the mental health of FDPs, only 35% felt confident in assessing and treating them. Specific training was provided to 25% of trainees; of this subset, only a quarter felt this training prepared them adequately. Skills training on transcultural competencies, post-traumatic stress disorder, and trauma management was regarded as essential to caring for refugees with confidence. Although psychiatric trainees are motivated to improve their skills in treating FDPs, a lack of adequate specific training has been identified. The development of practical skills training is essential. International online training courses could help meet this pressing need.

COVID-19 and CAP: What Changed in Training and Practice for Early Career Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists?

Covid-19 pandemic has affected early career psychiatrists (ECP) and psychiatric trainees significantly. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) specialists and trainees have a particular position in the pandemic as redeployments to adult units are possibly more disorientating for these psychiatrists normally working in paediatric settings. Redeployments and abrupt but potentially permanent changes to the delivery of service and training are explored via the Covid-19 and Early Career Psychiatrists survey which was prepared and disseminated by the EPA ECP Committee and the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT). The CAP related data from the survey will be discussed in this presentation and the implications on the future of CAP will be considered with particular emphasis on training.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Early Career Psychiatrists in Europe During COVID-19 Outbreak: Results of The EPA ECPC-EFPT Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract BodyThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives and work of Early Career Psychiatrists (ECPs). Some had to revamp their professional life, start using telepsychiatry without prior training, change their workplace during the pandemic, or were quarantined. Others were not able to complete their training or take obligatory courses as planned. The aim of the study was to understand the impact of the pandemic on education and professional development, working conditions and wellbeing of ECPs, as well as their attitude to telepsychiatry. The anonymous, 24-question cross-sectional survey was conducted by the European Psychiatric Association Early Career Psychiatrists Committee (EPA ECPC) and the Task Force on Meetings and Associations with the collaboration and support of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT). 517 participants from 39 different countries (member states of the Council of Europe) have been included in the analysis. Statistical analyses have been performed. Final results will be presented during the symposium. Identifying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ECPs will help us better prepare for similar events in the future, equip them with the necessary skills and provide them with the right support.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Joint Forces for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training: 1st ESCAP/UEMS-CAP/EFPT Training Day for CAP Trainees

IntroductionAs the Covid-19 pandemic brought about travel and social restrictions, many activities including specialty training events for medical specialty trainees moved online. The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees, European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and hild and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Section of UEMS joined forces to turn challenges into an opportunity for CAP trainees and jointly organized the 1st ESCAP/UEMS-CAP/EFPT Training Day.ObjectivesThe main aim was to offer CAP trainees throughout Europe high quality and up to date training content free of charge, making use of the different strengths of the organizing associations.MethodsContent of the Training Day was prepared according to feedback and demand from CAP trainees, collected through a questionnaire prior to the event. This event took place online and ran 9 webinars/workshops as well as a plenary case session where trainees presented real life cases made more challenging with the pandemic and representatives from 3 organizing associations discussed the cases from different perspectives. Remaining webinars/workshops covered a wide range of themes including but not limited to research, leadership, administrative and management skills as well as scientific topics such as eating disorders, medically unexplained symptoms, psychosis.ResultsAlmost 200 CAP trainees from 31 countries participated in the event and received certificates of completion. The outcome of the event is being evaluated via quantitative and qualitative methods and similar events will be planned accordingly.Conclusions1st ESCAP/UEMS-CAP/EFPT Training Day for CAP trainees was a success for reaching many trainees from across Europe and experimenting with different formats which will inspire future initiatives.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

COVID-19 and psychiatric training: Results from the efpt country surveys

IntroductionSeveral studies link COVID-19 and the associated lockdown and social-distancing measures to adverse mental health outcomes. In order to address this increase in mental health problems, adequate training of mental health care professionals is of the utmost importance. Objectives: To measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychiatric training in Europe and beyond. Methods: The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) represents more than 20 000 trainees from over 30 European countries. Every year, country representatives, complete the ‘Country Report’, which contains detailed information on psychiatric training in every (member) country. Results: In July 2020, representatives of 34 European and 9 non-European countries completed the survey. In 73% of countries, psychiatric trainees were assigned to COVID-19 wards, in 43% to emergency wards. In 25% of countries, trainees did not receive any training on COVID-19 prior to their assignment. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, trainees reported a decrease in clinical supervision in 65% of countries. In 51% of countries, (parts of) formal psychiatric training was cancelled. Psychotherapy training was cancelled in 25% of countries. In the majority of countries both formal and psychotherapy training were given online, however in 56% trainees experienced difficulties to attend. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extensive impact on psychiatric training in Europe and beyond. The EFPT calls upon policy makers and supervisors to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric training in order to provide psychiatric trainees with adequate skills to deal with the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Training as a psychiatrist during a pandemic

Abstract BodyTraining is a crucial time in any psychiatrist’s career. It’s a time when you are faced with new responsibilities and challenges, both professionally and personally, and senior and peer support are indispensable. The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on all the essential needs of trainees: supervision, theoretical training, clinical care and contact with both patients and colleagues have been put under pressure and are no longer the self-evident part of training that they were before. Trainees are facing an unprecedented balancing act between their duties as physicians, their training needs and their dedication to the often vulnerable patients under their care, all whilst dealing with the personal consequences of the pandemic and the restrictions that have been put in place. Based on the experiences of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) we will have a look into what has changed in the lives of trainee psychiatrists globally since the start of the pandemic, the difficulties that have occured and the lessons that have been learned. Examples of ways of dealing with the above mentioned challenges and opportunities for the future will be discussed.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

P.704 The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees’ (EFPT) approach to an international research collaboration: a review of the last 5 years.

P.704 The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees’ (EFPT) approach to an international research collaboration: a review of the last 5 years.

A decade of research by the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) - a review.

A decade of research by the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) - a review.

25 years of impact – how EFPT shapes the future of psychiatry

IntroductionEstablished in 1993, the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) has aimed to represent psychiatric trainees’ views in different platforms and to advocate for better training. Representation of more than twenty thousand psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) trainees has been realized through the cooperation of currently 34 national trainee associations (NTAs).ObjectivesTo discuss the function of NTAs with regard to empowerment of psychiatry trainees and to share the relevant experience of EFPT.MethodsThe formation process of NTAs and the outcomes of NTA network of EFPT will be explored.ResultsThe history of EFPT demonstrates that NTAs played an important role, first of all, in the formation of following NTAs. Today, most of them either independent or have a semi-independent position within the national psychiatry associations. The NTA network within EFPT has enabled the conduction of international research studies, which has contributed to the development of an insight on how specific aspects of psychiatry are perceived by trainees. The input of EFPT in several guidance documents and the dissemination of them through NTAs helped raising awareness about the rights and competencies, for both individual trainees and the organizations they formed. NTAs, with the good examples, support and encourage from the other NTAs, have become more involved in discussions about curriculum changes, even to a degree where trainees facilitated the launch of different rotations.ConclusionsThe experience EFPT proves that the organized efforts of NTAs can have a positive impact on psychiatry training in general, as well as the professional development of individual psychiatry trainees.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

Building national associations for psychiatry trainees: The MENTA recipe for success

European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) is an umbrella organization for national psychiatric trainee associations in Europe, aiming to develop collaboration between psychiatric trainees. EFPT states that organised trainee interest is crucial in promoting high quality psychiatric training, therefore it promotes that both general adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry trainees are represented by national trainee association in each European country. The Maintaining and Establishing a National Trainee Association Working Group (MENTA WG), a permanent EFPT working group, has been created to assist trainees in building a local trainee organization. MENTA WG supports organising meetings, helps manage the problems of functioning of an association, sends letters of support to national decision makers, helps prepare the organization's bylaws and facilitates the process of application for full EFPT membership. The group also helps reactivate the inactive associations and assists them in expansion and developing new initiatives. MENTA WG maintains close collaboration with the European Psychiatric Association Early Career Psychiatrists Committee (EPA ECPC) Task Force on Meetings and Associations and other organizations dedicated to early career psychiatrists, such as the Young Psychiatrists’ Network. In the last few years, due to the work done within MENTA WG, the EFPT family has grown and welcomed new official members, such as: Poland, Spain and Slovakia. Currently, we are planning on supporting trainees in Moldova, Bulgaria and Kosovo to establish new official organizations in these countries. We also expand our activities beyond Europe and offer counselling for psychiatric trainees from such countries as Australia or South Africa.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

TYOT: Tripadvisor for psychiatry trainees?

BackgroundAlthough guidelines to ensure the quality of postgraduate psychiatric training in Europe are provided both by the statements of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) and the UEMS Psychiatry Section's European Training Requirements, actual training conditions in different European countries have been documented to vary widely. Furthermore, most trainees are unaware of the existence of such guidelines.ObjectiveThe test your own training (TYOT) project set out to create an easy-to-use online tool that allows trainees to assess how their own training compares in relation to the European standards, thereby empowering trainees all over Europe.MethodsAn EFPT Focus Group consisting of psychiatric trainees or early career psychiatrists from eleven European countries created a core survey of key aspects of psychiatry training, such as the duration of the training program, the availability of clinical and educational supervision, access to international professional literature, the use of a national logbook, based on the UEMS European Training Requirements and the EFPT statements. Additional subsets of questions were designed for specific domains such as theoretical training in psychiatry, psychotherapy training and the role of supervisors and training institutions. Next, the questions were transferred to a suitable online hosting platform, which allows to automatically provide feedback in an algorithmic fashion about how the trainee’s experience compares to the European standards.ResultsThe TYOT platform will be launched in January 2017 and the first results will be presented at the European Congress of Psychiatry 2017. For more information about the TYOT tool please visit http://efpt.eu/training/tyot/.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.

Cross-national trainee collaboration-The EFPT research experience in psychiatry

IntroductionThe interest for academic background and investigational activities are essential in psychiatry. Several European-wide, early career psychiatrists-driven studies have been carried out completely independently, leading to high quality publications, where all the co-authors are junior researchers.ObjectivesTo further elaborate the European federation of psychiatric trainees (EFPT) platform of promoting the experience of collaborative work and research lead by psychiatric trainees in different countries all over Europe.MethodsA review of EFPT collaborative trainee-led research initiatives since the beginning with the focus on published articles and their impact on psychiatric community in Europe.ResultsMain topics of trainee research are related to postgraduate psychiatric training schemes in Europe raising awareness on enhancing and harmonizing standards of psychiatric education and training across Europe. Other research topics are related to treatment strategies while being a psychiatric in Europe, to migration and “brain drain” phenomenon of psychiatric trainees in Europe, to access to information in psychiatric training.ConclusionsInternational cooperation's in research should be promoted since the training. Joining professional associations provides opportunities for participating in research activities and establishing networks with other colleagues. Collaboration between psychiatric trainees ensures a more effective use of individual talents and a quick way of accessing and transferring new knowledge and research expertise. Moreover it provides a supportive framework for multi-center research.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The EFPT-PSUD survey

IntroductionAlthough psychoactive substance use disorders (PSUD) belong to the domain of mental health, their management varies greatly among European countries. Furthermore, both the role of psychiatrists and trainees in the treatment of PSUD is not the same for each European country.AimsAmong the context of the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT), the PSUD Working Group has developed a survey that has been spread out between the 15th of august 2015 and 15th of October 2016, at the aim of gathering information about the training in PSUD in Europe, both from Child and Adolescent, and General Adult Psychiatric (CAP and GAP) trainees.ObjectivesThe survey investigated, at European level, the organisation of the PSUD training, trainees satisfaction, attitudes towards people who use psychoactive substances, management of pharmacologic and involvement in common clinical situations.MethodsA 70-items questionnaire regarding the aforementioned objectives was developed, and shared trough an online data-collecting system among European CAP and GAP trainees, with 40 trainees per country filling the survey in at least 25 countries. One national coordinator per country facilitated the delivering of the survey.ResultsA total of 1250 surveys were filled from more than 25 European countries.ConclusionsData from the survey will be promptly analysed.The survey will be the first to explore European psychiatric trainees attitudes and practices about PSUD. Findings from this independent survey may serve in understanding the needs of trainees in the field of substance misuse psychiatry.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Does Europe need foreign psychiatrists? Recruitment trend in Europe

IntroductionRecruitment in to psychiatry is a long-standing concern in many countries, with low proportions of medical graduates choosing it as a specialty and ongoing stigma from within the medical profession. In other countries, the reverse problem is the case, with too many doctors wishing to enter psychiatry and insufficient training places available.ObjectivesTo understand the current situation within Europe with regards to recruitment in to psychiatry and to identify existing initiatives designed to boost recruitment.MethodsThe European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees conducts an annual survey of all member organizations. This is purposive sampling via an online, semi-structured survey, which is completed by country representatives. The survey asks respondents to identify if their country has a problem with recruitment and if so whether there were too many or too few applicants for training places. Those countries identifying recruitment initiatives were asked to provide further details.ResultsData will be presented from the past three years (2014–2016). Around half of all countries have stated that recruitment is a concern in the EFPT country survey. Many report that the number of new psychiatrists is too low and vacancies are not being filled. A small number reported that the number of new psychiatrists is too high and there are not enough vacancies. Of those countries reporting problems with recruitment around half describe initiatives to improve recruitment, which include financial incentives, careers fairs, mentoring schemes and a whole host of other projects.ConclusionsRecruitment in to psychiatry remains a serious problem in many European countries, but there are a wide range of initiatives, which aim to combat this shortfall.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychiatric training in perinatal mental health across European countries

IntroductionThe aim of postgraduate psychiatric training is to prepare psychiatrists to practice independently. The quality of care provided will depend on the training they received. Pregnancy and childbirth (usually called the perinatal period) are a high-risk period for many women with psychiatric problems. An illness episode at that time can have a devastating effect on women and the whole family, including the child's development.ObjectivesTo understand how perinatal mental health training is organized within Europe and how it fits in the training curricula.MethodsThe European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees conducts an annual survey of all member country organizations. We have asked respondents if they received training in perinatal psychiatry, whether that was optional or mandatory and what was its duration. Where training in perinatal psychiatry was not available we asked if they felt it should be.ResultsData will be presented from the 35 countries that responded in the 2016 survey. Six countries reported that training in perinatal mental health is available. But it is mandatory in only one, with the others offering a mix of theoretical and practical optional training. Of the 29 countries that do not offer perinatal psychiatry training, the majority reported it should be offered and mandatory.ConclusionThere is a gap in the expectations of psychiatrists treating women in pregnancy and after birth, and a widespread lack of training for them to be able to do so effectively.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.