
A Glimpse Into the Future of Psychiatry: Educator of the Year Award
“The best indicator of the future is looking at the past,” Sidney Zisook, MD, told attendees of the Annual Psychiatric Times® World CME Conference™. Dr Zisook spoke to the future of psychiatry in the Educator of the Year Lecture.
CONFERENCE REPORTER
“The best indicator of the future is looking at the past,”
Zisook grounded attendees by sharing a brief history of psychiatry, beginning around 2000 BC. The prevailing psychiatric theory was “eat this root.” Over time, humans and psychiatric treatment theory evolved. Around 1000 BC, eating roots was considered heathen and prayer was the answer to psychiatric ills. Fast forwarding through time, mental health care professionals moved to potions circa 1850 AD, pills in the 1950s, and then the
To further explore the future of psychiatry, Zisook turned to colleagues across the country and asked them about their hopes, fears, and predictions. Among the common themes were the prediction that the field will grow as a specialty, as noted by
In his exploration, Zisook also looked to
In psychiatric training, Zisook said it is imperative that the field embarks on cutting edge research and pursues innovative treatment while prioritizing patient narratives and the doctor-patient relationship to continue to attract and retain top notch talent. Similarly, he said burnout must be addressed, with an emphasis on wellness. It is important to foster team activities and connectivity, he explained. There are too many clinicians who suffer from depression and addiction, and access to care must be enhanced, including for trainees. Zisook also noted the fear of documentation when seeking help must also be addressed as well as the lack of time cited as a reason for not seeking help.
After considering the fears and hopes for psychiatry, Zisook said the field needs to learn from its failures, learn to persist, and learn humility. He quoted Michael Jordan:
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
Ultimately, he reminded attendees, the past is not so much different from the future, and 2030 is likely to be similar to (as opposed to different from) 2020. Still, he said he believes there will be at least 1 major breakthrough treatment that nobody has yet to imagine. And, he concluded, “Psychiatry will continue to be a rewarding and essential calling.”
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