Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015: 131: 1 All rights reserved DOI: 10.1111/acps.12379
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
Editorial
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica – this issue Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica opens the year 2015 with a discussion on the general attitude towards the field of psychiatry. The journal publishes a study on this topic (1) which is discussed in seven editorial comments by most influential professionals, among others representing World Psychiatric Association and European Psychiatric Association. Further, it is addressed by the editor. The main finding in the original study by Stuart et al. was that medical teaching faculty (N > 1000) in 15 academic teaching centres in Europe and Asia in general held negative views on psychiatry as a profession. The authors conclude that such stigma against psychiatry might explain the challenges experienced with recruitment into this profession in many countries and that action should be taken to improve the perception of psychiatry among medical students. However, based on the views of the editorial comments in this issue, the picture appears to be more blurred. According to recently educated doctors, attitudes towards psychiatry seem to be changing in a positive direction among medical students. Some of the editors also suggest that psychiatry is currently at a crossroad, where molecular biology and neuroscience play an increasing role, potentially enhancing the prestige of our profession. This author represents the generation of young academics, with a background in psychiatric genetics. From my perspective, the view on our profession among medical students and doctors has improved significantly since I completed medical school approximately 10 years ago. In my department, young doctors are currently competing for clinical as well as research positions. I get the impression that this increased interest is partly related to the recent advances in our knowledge on genetics and the workings of the brain. Further, the era in psychiatry where different schools stood in fierce opposition to each other seems to be approaching an end. Geneticists gain interest in environmental factors, while various forms of psychotherapy seek confirmation in neurobiology. In my opinion, this is a most welcome development, creating a more friendly and productive
atmosphere, which seems to be transmitted to younger colleagues. Among the original articles in this issue are four studies covering various aspects of prediction and risk factors in psychiatric disorders, all conducted in large, statistically well-powered samples. Ockenburg et al. (2) have explored the potential effects of adverse life events on somatic measures such as heart rate variability, cortisol and C-reactive protein. Lopez-Anton et al. (3) investigated prevalence of mild cognitive impairment as defined in the DSM-5, and its associations with non-cognitive symptoms. IsHak et al. (4) assessed the effect of antidepressant treatment on quality of life in patients suffering from major depressive disorder, while Moran’s (5) research group looked further into adolescent self-harm as a potentially independent risk factor for substance abuse in adulthood. Given the high statistical power of these studies, the results are highly trustworthy and could have relevance for our understanding of underlying mechanisms as well as for areas warranting further intervention. All these findings should be of interest for the broad group of readers of Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. M. Tesli NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, University of Oslo & Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway E-mail: [email protected]
References 1. Stuart H, Sartorius N, Liinamaa T et al. Images of psychiatry and psychiatrists. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:21–28. 2. Van Ockenburg SL, Tak LM, Bakker SJ et al. Effects of adverse life events on heart rate variability, cortisol, and C-reactive protein. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:40–50. 3. Lopez-Anton R, Santabarbara J, De-La-Camara C et al. Mild cognitive impairment diagnosed with the new DSM-5 criteria: prevalence and associations with non-cognitive psychopathology. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:29–39. 4. IsHak WW, Mirocha J, James D et al. Quality of life in major depressive disorder before/after multiple steps of treatment and one-year follow-up. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:51–60. 5. Moran P, Coffey C, Romaniuk H et al. Substance use in adulthood following adolescent self-harm: a populationbased cohort study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:61–68.
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© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA
Editorial
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica – this issue Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica opens the year 2015 with a discussion on the general attitude towards the field of psychiatry. The journal publishes a study on this topic (1) which is discussed in seven editorial comments by most influential professionals, among others representing World Psychiatric Association and European Psychiatric Association. Further, it is addressed by the editor. The main finding in the original study by Stuart et al. was that medical teaching faculty (N > 1000) in 15 academic teaching centres in Europe and Asia in general held negative views on psychiatry as a profession. The authors conclude that such stigma against psychiatry might explain the challenges experienced with recruitment into this profession in many countries and that action should be taken to improve the perception of psychiatry among medical students. However, based on the views of the editorial comments in this issue, the picture appears to be more blurred. According to recently educated doctors, attitudes towards psychiatry seem to be changing in a positive direction among medical students. Some of the editors also suggest that psychiatry is currently at a crossroad, where molecular biology and neuroscience play an increasing role, potentially enhancing the prestige of our profession. This author represents the generation of young academics, with a background in psychiatric genetics. From my perspective, the view on our profession among medical students and doctors has improved significantly since I completed medical school approximately 10 years ago. In my department, young doctors are currently competing for clinical as well as research positions. I get the impression that this increased interest is partly related to the recent advances in our knowledge on genetics and the workings of the brain. Further, the era in psychiatry where different schools stood in fierce opposition to each other seems to be approaching an end. Geneticists gain interest in environmental factors, while various forms of psychotherapy seek confirmation in neurobiology. In my opinion, this is a most welcome development, creating a more friendly and productive
atmosphere, which seems to be transmitted to younger colleagues. Among the original articles in this issue are four studies covering various aspects of prediction and risk factors in psychiatric disorders, all conducted in large, statistically well-powered samples. Ockenburg et al. (2) have explored the potential effects of adverse life events on somatic measures such as heart rate variability, cortisol and C-reactive protein. Lopez-Anton et al. (3) investigated prevalence of mild cognitive impairment as defined in the DSM-5, and its associations with non-cognitive symptoms. IsHak et al. (4) assessed the effect of antidepressant treatment on quality of life in patients suffering from major depressive disorder, while Moran’s (5) research group looked further into adolescent self-harm as a potentially independent risk factor for substance abuse in adulthood. Given the high statistical power of these studies, the results are highly trustworthy and could have relevance for our understanding of underlying mechanisms as well as for areas warranting further intervention. All these findings should be of interest for the broad group of readers of Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. M. Tesli NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, University of Oslo & Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway E-mail: [email protected]
References 1. Stuart H, Sartorius N, Liinamaa T et al. Images of psychiatry and psychiatrists. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:21–28. 2. Van Ockenburg SL, Tak LM, Bakker SJ et al. Effects of adverse life events on heart rate variability, cortisol, and C-reactive protein. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:40–50. 3. Lopez-Anton R, Santabarbara J, De-La-Camara C et al. Mild cognitive impairment diagnosed with the new DSM-5 criteria: prevalence and associations with non-cognitive psychopathology. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:29–39. 4. IsHak WW, Mirocha J, James D et al. Quality of life in major depressive disorder before/after multiple steps of treatment and one-year follow-up. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:51–60. 5. Moran P, Coffey C, Romaniuk H et al. Substance use in adulthood following adolescent self-harm: a populationbased cohort study. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015;131:61–68.
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