title: The most important things I have learnt in my career as a psychiatrist.
abstract: This paper is something of a patchwork, incorporating many issues that have intrigued me during 34 years of research. I have included the importance of maintaining a solid base in clinical work, alongside research activities, and being alert to the possibility of a somatic condition contributing to psychiatric symptoms. I stress the value of careful observation of patients, their response to treatments and reasons for dropping out. In addition, I have included 14 more lessons, learned from my experience of research, which I hope will be of use to those readers who aspire to become researchers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leff