[Organization and basic principles of postgraduate education of psychiatric physicians in the Soviet Union]

The author outlines the major principles and structure of post-graduate training in the USSR. There are 16 special post-graduate institutes for physicians in the USSR, with 14 chairs of psychiatry. For special branches of psychiatry post-graduate training is accomplished in Psychiatric Research Institutes. The training of professionals in institutes for post-graduate training is implemented through training courses oriented in line with the level of professional skills of the trainees (primary courses, for psychiatrists with a background, for professors) One of the forms of post-graduate training are visiting courses of the teacher-body of the Central Institute for Advanced Medical Training to various regions of the country. Teaching is conducted according to detailed elaborated programmes.