Management of psychosexual and relationship problems in general mental health services by psychiatry trainees.
OBJECTIVE
All psychiatry trainees (both Basic and Higher Specialist Trainees in Adult and Old Age Psychiatry) in the Nottingham (Mid-Trent rotation) were invited to complete a questionnaire evaluating the assessment and training of psychosexual and relationship problems in the general mental health services.


RESULTS
Only 24% of trainees reported to routinely asked patients about psychosexual history, 65% felt comfortable about taking a detailed psychosexual history. 81% of trainees reported inadequacy whilst dealing with psychosexual disorders during their training in psychiatry. Only 30% reported asking patients for potential sexual side-effects when on psychotropic medication. All the trainees would refer the patient to a local psychosexual disorder clinic (if available).


CONCLUSIONS
Taking a sexual and relationship (both past and current) history should be an integral part of any psychiatric assessment. Training in human sexuality should be introduced in medical schools. Training in human sexuality is a core part of psychiatric training curriculum and trainees should be tested for their competency in dealing with sexual dysfunctions.
Rele
K
K
Department of General Adult Psychiatry, Intensive Treatment Service, Longley Centre, Sheffield, UK. kiran.rele@sct.nhs.uk
Wylie
K
K
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000592:standards*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012731:Sex Counseling / Q000193:education*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires