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Academic psychiatry: a key research asset is shrinking
Philip McGuire1,2, Kate Saunders1,2, Belinda R Lennox1
1Department of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/052gg0110University of Oxford, UK.
Summary
The number of academic psychiatrists in the UK has significantly decreased by 31% since 2006. This decline threatens the future of vital mental health research and psychiatric services.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Medical Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Academic psychiatrists are crucial for advancing mental health research and maintaining the UK's international research standing.
- A concerning trend of declining academic psychiatrist numbers has been observed in the UK over the last two decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the significant reduction in the number of academic psychiatrists in the UK.
- To emphasize the critical need to reverse this downward trend for the future of psychiatric research.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of historical data on the number of academic psychiatrists in the UK.
- Comparison of current numbers with those from 2006 to quantify the decline.
Main Results:
- There has been a 31% decrease in the number of academic psychiatrists in the UK compared to 2006 figures.
- This represents a progressive decline over the past twenty years.
Conclusions:
- The diminishing number of academic psychiatrists poses a substantial risk to the UK's mental health research capacity.
- Urgent action is required to reverse this trend and support psychiatric research.
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