Psychotherapy Training Among Psychiatrists in Russia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Access to psychotherapeutic interventions and the standardization of psychotherapy training within psychiatric training worldwide remain a global challenge. In Russia, psychotherapy training has developed considerably since its introduction in the early 20th century. However, its integration into psychiatry training programs remains inconsistent, with variations across institutions.

To explore the experiences of psychiatry trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) in Russia with psychotherapy education, and to assess their views on potential areas for improvement.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the World Psychotherapy Survey questionnaire, which was translated into Russian. The survey gathered data on psychotherapy training experiences, supervision, and demographic characteristics.

Data were obtained from 223 psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees across 38 Russian cities. There was a strong interest in psychotherapy training, with 88 (39.5%) participants already certified or undergoing training, while 100 (44.8%) planned future training. However, only 69 (30.9%) reported that their psychiatry training programs included mandatory psychotherapy courses. Supervision opportunities were limited, and many respondents funded the training themselves. The majority (n=200; 89.7%) supported the inclusion of psychotherapy training into the psychiatry training programs, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy being the most preferred modalities.

Psychotherapy training is highly relevant to psychiatry trainees and ECPs in Russia, yet gaps in supervision and inconsistent integration into the psychiatry training programs need to be addressed. Revising educational programs to include mandatory psychotherapy training could align Russian psychiatric education with international standards and enhance the quality of mental health care.