Is psychiatry an art or a science? The views of psychiatrists and trainees

Abstract

Objective: It is generally considered by many practitioners that psychiatry is an art, that is, one of the humanities, as well as being a science. We systematically collected the views of practitioners and trainee psychiatrists regarding the question ‘Is psychiatry an art or a science?’ Method: Eleven supervisors and nine trainees were interviewed and their responses analysed, using a qualitative method, the modified framework approach. Results: Several themes emerged from the data: that ‘art’ and ‘science’ are different; psychiatry as a discipline is difficult to define; psychiatry demands a broader range of skills than other medical specialties; the relationship of psychology to psychiatry; supervisor cynicism to the ‘science’ of psychiatry; and the ‘art’ and ‘science’ of the assessment process. Conclusions: The tension that exists within the profession's identity as a discipline has important implications for teaching, learning, and clinical and research practices.