Opinions of primary care physicians and psychiatrists on psychiatry and psychiatrists – a comparison

Purpose
The aim of the study was to assess the opinions of Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) on psychiatry and psychiatrists and on attitudes towards psychiatry among the general population, and to compare PCPs’ views with the results of the research on psychiatrists’ attitudes.

Methods
A survey method was used with self-completion questionnaires. The analysis was based on 211 questionnaires.

Results
97% of PCPs state that the primary form of treatment for psychiatric patients should be some form of out-patient health care. 61% of PCPs state that the prestige of psychiatry in the opinion of doctors of other specializations is average, 50% think that majority of psychiatrists are satisfied with their choice of specialization, and 73% believe that the level of responsibility of a psychiatrist is high. 71% of PCPs believe that the funding of psychiatry is on a lower level than in other areas of medicine, 67% believe that psychiatric treatment is moderately effective, while 26% state that it is highly effective. However, PCPs believe that 60% of the society assesses it as moderately effective and 38% as ineffective or mostly ineffective.

Conclusions
Almost all PCPs state that the primary form of treatment for psychiatric patients should be community care. They do not see psychiatry as being so underfunded and stigmatized within the society as psychiatrists do. PCPs assess the efficacy of psychiatric treatment to be at a much higher level than do psychiatrists, which may result from a limited contact with the group of severely ill patients. The opinions indicate a need to introduce educational programs for family doctors.