A (Possible) Role for International Associations in the Development of Forensic Psychiatry Education and Training

Abstract

The authors have described the general structure and functioning of relevant European associations professionally involved in psychiatry: the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes, the European Psychiatric Association and the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees. The authors further sketched how these associations could help in establishing a common European training programme in forensic psychiatry. After completing such a training programme, a European Certificate in Forensic Psychiatry might be provided. Though this would only convey a label of quality to the bearer. One could hope it may lead to further harmonisation and an increased quality of the assessment procedures of offenders suffering from psychiatric disorders. The authors also shortly described the European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness. Finally they have presented the Ghent group whose main goals were to focus on best practices and training of young psychiatrists.