Why should doctors be trained in Psychology?

In 1977, George Engel proposed the biopsychosocial model of health as an approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors as interacting with health, illness, and healthcare delivery in a complex, multidirectional manner. Today, various healthcare systems have embraced this model. Medical professionals also acknowledge the importance of considering psychosocial factors while treating their patients. However, sufficient training and education about these factors and related constructs are not provided to medical professionals. This article looks at reasons why doctors should be trained in psychology, highlighting the urgent need for mental health education among medical professionals. 

Read More: A Beginner’s Guide to Psychology

Reasons to provide psychosocial training for doctors and other medical professionals 

Better healthcare delivery for patients 

With the advent of technology and the internet, patients have multiple resources providing them with the information to diagnose themselves. It is not uncommon to see patients arriving at hospitals and clinics with a diagnosis and a ‘preferred’ treatment. However, this can deter them from receiving the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Doctors are often faced with this issue and are left to deal with it in their ways. 

In addition to this phenomenon of self-diagnosing, several other psychosocial factors such as treatment adherence, lifestyles, motivation, and psychological issues such as anxiety, stress, and depression should also be focused on, to provide holistic healthcare to the patients. Psychosocial training is necessary for doctors to support and facilitate shared decision-making with patients so that they consider and deliver treatment and management options that align with the patient’s lifestyles and motivations. 

Further, training doctors in essential soft skills such as empathy, active listening, critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving also helps them tailor interventions to suit their patient’s needs, and also improve their communication with their patients. 

Supporting caregivers  

Often, caregivers of patients with chronic illness also undergo stress burnout and a variety of other psychological issues. Leaving such concerns unchecked is likely to spill over to other areas of the caregivers’ lives. Doctors can check on the caregivers regularly, and signpost them to mental health professionals, if need be. This prevents the occurrence of serious cases of caregiver burnout, thereby indirectly enhancing treatment quality and also the quality of life for both caregivers and patients. 

Read More: Burnout – The high cost of caring?!

Dealing with mental health crises

Post the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in awareness and prevalence of mental health disorders. However, medical graduates are not trained to be competent with mental disorders. This failure in education and training is the root issue contributing to mental health crises worldwide. Because of this, many patients with mental health concerns are still not receiving appropriate care. This necessitates training for medical professionals in providing basic mental health care. They should also be informed about other services so that they can signpost their patients to relevant mental health consultants for further therapeutic intervention.

Read More: The psychology behind Coping Mechanisms

Personal benefits for doctors

The medical profession is typically associated with expertise and values such as dedication and commitment to patient care. However, the responsibilities and demands that come with it leave a significant impact on doctors’ mental well-being.  Doctors and other medical professionals are required to empathize with their patients to understand them. When this happens regularly with too many patients, they might experience emotional exhaustion. They are also likely to experience burnout due to exertion on their physical, mental and social resources. Besides, doctors have their own lives too, thereby making their role both a professional as well as a personal challenge. 

Read More: Caring for Someone with Mental Distress

The COVID-19 pandemic also added to this issue, wherein healthcare professionals experienced isolation and had to distance themselves from their loved ones. They had to spend their time alone or with their patients in most cases. Moreover, they also saw the grief of families who lost loved ones. Despite increasing instances of the physical and emotional burden faced by doctors, research and solutions in this area are scarce. 

Read More: Coping with Grief and Loss: A Guide for Young Adults

On a general note, doctors are likely to experience mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Disproportionate suicide rates have also been observed within this profession. Other issues are specifically related to the type of work medics engage in. 

Read More: Suicide Awareness: Unveiling the Truth

The mental health concerns of doctors are of utmost importance. Prioritizing their well-being not only helps to improve their mental health but also enhances the overall quality of patient care indirectly. Therefore, psychological training for doctors focuses on various aspects such as 

1. Responding appropriately to biases arising due to sociodemographic and/or individual differences such as gender, race, nationality, etc.
2. Handling difficult patients, conflicts with patients and/or their caregivers
3. Promoting awareness about mental health issues and disorders
4. Managing stress, burnout and other psychological problems 
5. Handling complicated ethical dilemmas
6. Breaking the bad news
7. Dealing with medical errors
8. Dealing with difficult colleagues 
9. Promoting self-care 

In addition, training in psychology can help doctors deal with moral distress and moral injury. Moral distress refers to the feeling of discomfort stemming from being unable to act ethically, often as a result of institutional or resource constraints. On the other hand, moral injury occurs due to sustained moral distress and could lead to disruption in functioning and long-term psychological harm. 

Read More: The Connection of Journaling with Mental Health

Further, integrating psychology education and training in medical curricula can help tackle the stigma around mental health services among doctors. This would also help doctors understand that mental and social health is as important as physical health. In conclusion, integrating and informing doctors about the importance of psychological and social well-being and self-care through training and education will leave an impact on the lives of not just doctors but also their families, and that of their patients and their caregivers. Therefore, it is recommended that governments, policymakers, educational institutions and other stakeholders promote training in psychosocial aspects of healthcare, thereby helping develop a holistic healthcare delivery.