Psychiatric knowledge and skills required of occupational physicians: priorities in the Japanese setting

To prioritize the educational content in psychiatry teaching materials for occupational physicians.

A preparatory investigation was performed that included interviews with 13 psychiatrists who were well acquainted with occupational health and practices. Brainstorming among the psychiatrists and 12 occupational physicians was used to develop a list of educational content related to psychiatric issues that should be required for occupational physicians. Using a questionnaire survey constructed based on the preparatory investigations, 135 specialists with extensive experience in occupational medicine were asked to prioritize the selected items.

A total of 67 specialists responded to the questionnaire. The following were recommended as high educational priorities for occupational physicians to master: awareness and diagnosis of mood disorders, being able to appropriately deal with depressed workers, screening for depression, understanding cases that should be referred for special treatment, appropriate action for a suicidal person, understanding symptoms that require cooperation in an emergency with a specialist, acquisition of the attitude and skills used in active listening and awareness of diseases such as alcohol dependence, adjustment disorders and schizophrenia.

What has been presented here is a consensus view of specialists in this field. The items included were those obtained from sitting in on the discussions of psychiatrists and occupational physicians. They represent indicators for the development of teaching materials.