Training Psychiatry Residents in Descriptive Psychopathology: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Medical Education

Background:

• Descriptive psychopathology (DP) is crucial for understanding and describing mental symptoms in psychiatry.
• There is a recognized need to re-emphasize DP training for psychiatry residents.

Approach:

• A systematic review following PRISMA and BEME guidelines was conducted.
• Literature searches were performed across multiple databases (Embase, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science).
• Included studies were assessed using the CRAAP test, Kirkpatrick's 4 levels, and MERSQI.

Key Points:

• The reviewed literature on DP training for residents is scarce and heterogeneous.
• Training evaluations are often limited, with an overreliance on Kirkpatrick's levels 1-2.
• Lectures and live supervised interviews with feedback were the most common educational methods reported.

Conclusions:

• Despite its importance, DP training literature is limited, lacking robust evaluation.
• Effective educational interventions for DP training were identified, suitable for clinical and non-clinical settings.
• Future research should explore DP's role in competency-based training and neglected content areas.