Neurology training program to the education of residents in psychiatry in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Psychiatry and neurology are intertwined specialties. The advance of neuropsychiatry allowed the incision of the functional-organic dichotomy, as well as the need to include contents of neurology discipline in training the psychiatrist. Objectives: To determine the content and methodology of neurology discipline in the formation of psychiatry residents. Methods: In 2011 to 2013 a theoretical and reflective research was held on the websites of the Brazilian Psychiatric Association (BPA), residencies in psychiatry in Brazil, PubMed and SciELO. The terms used were: medical residency program and residency in psychiatry; neurology and residency in psychiatry. We searched for skills, workload, hospital care or outpatient, supervisor, teaching method, thematic content, evaluation, research and recommended literature. Results and discussion: In Brazil, there are 66 residencies in psychiatry, concentrated in the Southeast and South regions (71.1%). Of the 840 residency positions, 80.1% are located in these regions. Only 8% of residencies publish their programs, even partial. Psychiatry residents accompany the service of neurology at specialized clinics as neurogeriatrics, headache and epilepsy. No residency discloses the thematic content and recommended literature. An internship reported the need for evaluation to completion. Conclusions: In Brazil, there is not a full program of neurology to form the psychiatrist. It is necessary that the residencies publish their programs and experiences. It is suggested that the BPA structure a national program so the institutions can adapt it to their reality. It is proposed that the preceptor of neurology be part of the psychiatry service, and not the resident pass by neurology subspecialty outpatients.