Use of empathy in psychiatric practice: constructivist grounded theory study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Psychiatry faces criticism for overemphasizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and medication, potentially neglecting humanistic and empathetic approaches.
• There is a need to understand how psychiatrists integrate empathy into their daily practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an empirically based qualitative theory of how psychiatrists use empathy in their day-to-day practice.
• To inform psychiatric practice and teaching methods by understanding empathetic engagement.

Main Methods:

• Constructivist grounded theory methodology was employed.
• Interviews were conducted with 17 academic psychiatrists and 4 residents.
• Data were iteratively coded to develop a theory of empathetic engagement.

Main Results:

• A theory of empathetic engagement in psychiatric practice emerged, comprising three elements: relational, transactional, and instrumental empathy.
• Psychiatrists' actions progress from relational to more deliberate and interventional approaches as they move towards instrumental empathy.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a theory of 'empathetic engagement' based on participants' descriptions of empathy-based interventions.
• This contrasts with a paradigm viewing psychiatry as solely neurobiological, separate from psychotherapy and interpersonal interventions.