The psychiatrist in scrubs

ABSTRACT

Comments on the article, It is time for a dress code in psychiatry by R. Balon and M. K. Morreale (2020). I read with great interest the editorial by Balon and Morreale, in which a cogent case is put forth regarding the ramifications of a psychiatrist's attire on the psychiatrist-patient relationship and perceptions of psychiatric treatment. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist who provides consultation to a pediatric emergency department, the topic of appropriate attire for psychiatrists has been especially salient at a time when I, and my colleagues working in the emergency department, have been required to wear scrubs, a face mask, and eye protection when assessing and treating patients as part of hospital practices intended to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Recent scholarly literature has highlighted potential challenges in the formation of a therapeutic alliance stemming from the use of face masks in psychiatric practice. Our choice of attire is among the manifold factors that influence our interactions with patients, and even when this choice is removed, it is essential that we remain attuned to the potential impacts of our appearances. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)