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Authors' reply

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Rose McCabe*
Affiliation:
University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter. Email: r.mccabe@exeter.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Columns
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Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2017 

The pilot study by Ditton-Phare et al, Reference Ditton-Phare, Sandhu, Kelly, Kissane and Loughland1 which was not published at the time of writing our paper, is a most welcome addition to the field. Their focus on how to communicate about diagnosis and prognosis is particularly helpful, given that there can be a reluctance to disclose a diagnosis of psychosis for fear of causing harm. Reference Moran, Oz and Karnieli-Miller2 As Ditton-Phare et al describe, they evaluated trainees' skills ‘in vitro’ using role plays with actors. While assessing trainees' skills interacting with actors (or simulated patients) is a useful tool in training, there are ‘qualities of the psychiatrist–patient encounter that may be resistant to simulation’. Reference Brenner3 Our study Reference McCabe, John, Dooley, Healey, Cushing and Kingdon4 differed in testing an intervention in the natural clinic setting with patients. Hence, as far as we are aware, this is the first study to enhance communication with patients with psychosis.

References

1 Ditton-Phare, P, Sandhu, H, Kelly, B, Kissane, D, Loughland, C. Pilot evaluation of a communication skills training program for psychiatry residents using standardized patient assessment. Acad Psychiatry 2016; 40: 768–75.Google Scholar
2 Moran, GS, Oz, G, Karnieli-Miller, O. Psychiatrists' challenges in considering disclosure of schizophrenia diagnosis in Israel. Qual Health Res 2014; 24: 1368–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Brenner, AM. Uses and limitations of simulated patients in psychiatric education. Acad Psychiatry 2009; 33: 112–9.Google Scholar
4 McCabe, R, John, P, Dooley, J, Healey, P, Cushing, A, Kingdon, D, et al. Training to enhance psychiatrist communication with patients with psychosis (TEMPO): cluster randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2016; 209: 517–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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