SUMMARYCHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY TRAINING IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND TURKEY

Objective:

We aimed to investigate and compare content, period, structure of psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry training among European countries and Turkey; conditions to start and to finish the training and problems lived during training.

Method:

Data is collected from 21 European countries including Turkey, via European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees- EFPT delegates of each country, who sent us electronic mails for our specific questions about psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry training in their countries.

Results:

Total psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry training period is between 4 and 6.5 years. To start, some countries have a national examination, whereas some do not apply any examination and some have waiting lists. Including Turkey, fifteen countries among 21 had started to use “log-books". In nine countries psychotherapy training is compulsory, but in the other 12 countries, like Turkey, it depends on your department. Most of the countries have pediatrics training included. Twelve of 21 country have examination to finish the specializiation.

Discussion:

Psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry training among European countries have several differences on content, structure, period and conditions to start and to finish. Turkey has a similar training with general application in Europe in terms of structure, content and period. However, psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry training in the member countries of EFPT are not standardized and harmonized yet. The role of Union of European Medical Specialities (UEMS) and EFPT on harmonization, coordination and resolving the problems in application among European countries is very important.