ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Psychiatric mentors are an important part of the new, seamless training program in Singapore. There is a need to assess the qualities of a good psychiatric mentor vis-à-vis those of a good psychiatrist. METHOD: An anonymous survey was sent out to all psychiatry trainees and psychiatrists in Singapore to assess quantitatively the relative importance of 40 qualities for a good psychiatrist and a good mentor. RESULTS: The response rate was 48.7% (74/152). Factor analysis showed four themes among the qualities assessed (professional, personal values, relationship, academic-executive). A good mentor is defined by professional, relationship, and personal-values qualities. Mentors have significantly higher scores than psychiatrists for two themes (relationship and academic-executive). CONCLUSION: Being a good mentor, in Asia, means being a good psychiatrist first and foremost but also requires additional relationship and academic-executive skills. Mentors should be formally trained in these additional skills that were not part of the psychiatric curriculum.
Subject(s)
Cross-Cultural Comparison , Internship and Residency , Mentors/education , Mentors/psychology , Psychiatry/education , Adult , Data Collection , Female , Humans , Interprofessional Relations , Male , Singapore , Social ValuesABSTRACT
Suicide is a common and preventable event that is often reported by the media when there are sensationalistic elements or if the suicide involves a celebrity. Media reports of suicide can induce a copycat or "Werther effect". There is increasing evidence that sensationalistic reporting of suicides has a direct effect on increasing suicide rates. Responsible reporting guidelines drawn up in consultation with media professionals have been shown to improve reporting of suicides. Local reporting on suicides tends to be sensationalistic but also has a strong educational slant. The media should educate both the public and the medical professional about their role in suicide prevention.
Subject(s)
Imitative Behavior , Mass Media/standards , Suicide Prevention , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , SingaporeSubject(s)
Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Educational Status , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenic Psychology , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Age of Onset , Case-Control Studies , Child , Cognition Disorders/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/psychology , SingaporeABSTRACT
There has been relatively little study of the longitudinal course of cognitive functioning before the onset of schizophrenia. We report scores from standardized academic examinations at ages 12 and 16 years of 30 male patients with a first episode of schizophrenia (FES) and a normal control group balanced for gender, age, parental socio-economic class and academic scores at age 12. The FES group had greater deterioration in mathematics scores and poorer educational outcome, possibly reflecting neurocognitive changes that preceded the onset of schizophrenia.
