r/PsychiatryDoctorsUK

Since medical school I’ve wanted to do IMT and prepared my portfolio for that. However, recently decided that I would prefer to do Psychiatry (after a rotation in the specialty). I was looking at the higher specialty training requirements and I’ve realised I’ve done barely anything on it and now I’m a bit worried. Could I please have some word of advice on what I can do now to start preparing for it?

Is there anything like a job plan as a core psych trainee? Like if one wants to go 8-6(long days) for 4 days and then go 9-1 on the 5th day on an inpatient job? Does anything like that seem reasonable or will it be stressful working those extra hours as the sole doctor on the ward?

Ie it seems a lot of people are recommending Spmm/psymentor but is there a course or any other resources people found helpful especially for stats at beginner level ?
Thanks

I'm looking to start studying for the September CASC exam relatively soon, but I'm really struggling on how to organise notes or make a mental framework on how to tackle the stations. Maybe I'm just not imaginitive enough.

SPMM notes come across as information diarrhoea to me.

I can think of breaking down all known potential stations into information giving, history and MSE. Would that be the way to do it?

If anyone could help I would greatly, greatly appreciate it!

Results out, 63.51% pass mark

so bummed tbh i thought i’d failed but i guess it’s always hard to see how close one was to the pass mark… Looks like another £600 down the drain. How’d yall find it? anyone pass by a lot / little?

I’m starting CT1 in London in August and have been emailed by my trust asking whether I’d like to opt in to on-calls. This sounds like a dream to work 9-5 for a period after a very demanding F2 rota.
I’ve emailed to ask but received no reply as to what the difference in pay might be- does anyone know? And is there any reason I’m not considering as to why you might like to opt in?
Thank you

Recently I have been feeling like what is the point of all this time spent studying… don’t get me wrong I am extremely grateful for my job. However, it no longer feels sustainable to keep giving everything I have to a career which for various reasons leaves me feeling like a strained out dirty rag.

I have been dreaming about building a business outside of medicine so that I can some day work LTFT because I want to not because I need to. I feel like the returns of using my time outside of work to build this business could be far greater than if I use this time studying for expensive exams that won’t even guarantee a training post somewhere close to home come ST4.

So I had the idea of not even bothering to sit the exams untill I have completed CT3. This way I can use my time and money on building something outside of medicine. Then… Take some form of non- training post or locum for how ever long it takes to pass exams if my side quest hasn’t taken by then.
If it completely fails, atleast I tried and can eventually progress once exams are completed albeit with a delay as I am aware I can’t enter ST4 without paper A and B and CASC.

I’m wondering if this will cause any problems with progression through to CT3 before applying for ST4. Would it cause any problems with supervisors? I would still use study leave to slowly prepare for exams e.g. creating notes/ attending courses with any study fund/ building portfolio.

It’s just that progression doesn’t feel guaranteed anymore so why not make the most of my time instead of fretting about it.

I'm struggling. Maths and stats are my weakest point. I simply cannot learn pearsons / spearmans / chi-squared / ANOVA and all that BS. Hoping other people are finding this tricky 😔

Feeling pretty anxious about this so wanted to see if anyone has been in the same boat.

Essentially I set up my miniPAT, all my assessors responded within the 28 days, but I completely forgot to submit my own self-assessment form before the deadline closed. Classic.

I've already contacted PortfolioOnline support who confirmed the miniPAT is still valid — the collated feedback from assessors is produced, it just won't show any self-scores alongside it. They also said I wouldn't be expected to repeat it with the same nominees.

I've told my CS who is putting a note on record, and I'm letting my ES know before my ARCP.

Has anyone had this happen? Did it affect your ARCP outcome? Hoping for an Outcome 1 given the rest of my portfolio is in good shape but obviously worried the panel will flag the missing self-scores. Or should I just do another minipat and have it released early? Any reassurance (or warnings!) appreciated 😅

I have the joy of being off on a tech-free holiday for a good couple of weeks.

Would appreciate some recommendations from you all on your recommendations of must-read articles in psychiatry to hopefully bring my IQ back up to 3 digits.

Thank you!

Hi people, I was wondering are we provided a calculator by Pearson Vue for the sitting or do we need to take our own?

Does anyone have any experience of using any of these resources to prepare for CASC and would you recommend or avoid?
They’re all pretty expensive and don’t want to throw money away unnecessarily.

1. SPMM Mock (F2F)
2. RCPsych Masterclass (Online)
3. RCPsych Practice (Half online, Half F2F)

Thanks!

Ok so a few days ago I wrote a post about my desire to work as an academic in psychiatry in an ideally hybrid clinical/academic role involved in qualitative research. I received some sparse but encouraging comments about this being viable. I had thought that the space for qualitative/theoretical research in psychiatry was approaching non-existent. I'm very very interested in the kind of research that looks at the intersections of the "bio-psycho-social" or in research that looks at the theoretical constitution of psychiatry and the psychology-psychiatry intersection. Appreciate this might be rare.. 

I've been reading about the different "paths into academia" lately and have boiled them down to the below. I am basically trying to chart a path for myself and I was wondering whether anybody could comment on the below paths by correcting, elaborating, adding, removing where appropriate? I've also embedded questions into each pathway and would appreciate if anybody could answer them.

The most standardised pathway which can begin with an Academic FP followed by an Academic Clinical Fellowship during Core Training followed by a Clinical Lecturer/Researcher as an SpR then an academic consultant working a hybrid job? I'm already a CT1 so obviously AFP is not an option. I have several publications (none where I'm the first author) over the past 7-8 years and have had two formal research posts. Sounds impressive but then again the lack of any first-author pubs is a glaring lack. 

What are ACFs usually looking for in terms of a CV? I have 6 non-first-author publications, have done two clinical research posts full-time after qualifying. Published in the first one but couldn't during the second one (COVID). 

Should I do an MSc before applying for an ACF? Do people usually get these funded, or will I have to take out a student loan for this?

What's the advantage of doing an MSc +/- an ACF over doing a PhD +/- ACF as core trainee or higher trainee? In other words, I've seen people do funded and self-funded PhDs without an MSc or ACF, seems like a simpler path, any disadvantages to doing this?

Engaging with research teams at any stage of training, publishing and building a research portfolio (ie just publications and reference letters) and possibly a research special interest day as an SpR. I wonder how this formally progresses into an academic post as a consultant? Do you show your experience without any "formal posts" (formal posts would be things like an ACF or PhD or postdoc fellowships) with publications and references and hope to get an academic post?

The thing I'm most confused about is what my concrete next step should be: A) MSc? B) Informal research engagement? C) Apply straight to an ACF even though I may not be competitive enough given the above? D) Wait a year or two and then do a PhD straight away either between CT and ST or after I start ST? Chances of getting this funded at each of these levels? 

Sorry if my questions are half-baked but I'm trying to get my head around all of this and would appreciate any advice you can give.

Is 8 weeks enough to study for Paper A if you have not started at all?

Please be brutally honest and if it is possible how many hours per day are we talking?

Thanks

Hi,

Me and my partner are feeling like we're ready to start trying for a baby, but I still need to sit my CASC and hoping to this september.

Owing to lots of different factors, this is a good time for us to start trying for a baby, but I am nervous about revising in first trimester (after hearing how exhausting it can be!) and then sitting it pregnant as well. Just wondered if anyone has done this

Has anyone done a part time masters during full time core training?

I’m entertaining the idea of an msc in philosophy and mental health or psychotherapy.

Would you guys recommend taking time out of training, ltft or is the work manageable?

Thanks

Hi,

I am really sorry if this may not be the right place to post, I’m not sure where else to (please signpost me where to go if there’s somewhere more appropriate)

I’m 16, and I’m really really struggling- I don’t have any support and it’s becoming so hard for me to manage on my own

I have complex medical problems and it’s really been affecting my mental health,

it’s extremely difficult for me to access help anywhere, or accessing most helplines and I’m turning to Reddit because I don’t know where else to go,

I really don’t know what to do, but I’m so depleted and and I feel like I can’t keep going

I finally managed to see to a psychiatrist a few days ago and have another appointment with them again soon, but I’m finding it really hard to talk to them

if anyone can suggest any where for me to try and get help or what I can do, I’d appreciate it a lot, I feel like I’m reaching a breaking point and I can’t cope anymore

(I’m not asking for medical advice, I’m just trying to find out where I can get help from since I can’t keep trying on my own anymore)

I was wondering if anybody has experience of exceeding 14 days out of training while a core trainee in psychiatry?

I am due to complete core training this August and have an SpR post lined up.

Due to a combination of strikes and sickness, I have had 22 days absence since my last ARCP. If my portfolio is complete, are they likely to suggest extending my training? And if so, what would happen to my SpR post?