What do psychiatrists wear

Findings regarding physician attire are similar in other Western countries. In Scotland, McKinstry and Wang 5 assessed the preferences of patients using photographs of different styles of dress for both male and female physicians.

Patients favored a more formal approach to dress, with male physicians wearing a suit and tie and female physicians wearing a white coat. Similarly, Dunn et al 10 felt that attire and etiquette are not substitutes for good clinical skills, although they play a role in the development of the physician—patient relationship.

One may wonder how physician attire is viewed within psychiatry, because the studies discussed above did not include the opinions of psychiatrists or patients seeking psychiatric care, and we were unable to locate any studies that specifically address this issue. We believe that psychiatry should follow the findings from other specialties, because our patients should not be treated differently and therefore stigmatized.

The aforementioned hearsay argument about formal dress creating a barrier between psychiatrists and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients does not hold water unless proven in studies. We may counter that, through our own experience, the majority of patients, regardless of socioeconomic class, comment positively on the proper attire of their psychiatrists, including us one of us wears a tie and jacket or suit. We agree with Brandt, 9 who states that attire is important because everything in the physician—patient interaction is important.

Thus, we argue that a dress code should be sanctioned and reinforced in psychiatry—as is done in other specialties—especially in outpatient and consultation-liaison settings, and should also be required for residents during training. E-MAIL [email protected].

Arch Int Medicine. Jones WHS. Volume 2. These results are in contrast with a UK study They reported that the doctors dressed in suits were considered to be more competent and the white coat was related to being the most understanding.

The description of smart attire consisted of wearing a long sleeved shirt with formal trousers and a tie male and a blouse and skirt female. Comparable to the US study the psychiatrists usually were more critical about their attire as compared to patients themselves.

What about other doctors than psychiatrists? In a large study from New Zealand with outpatients attending clinics that covered a range of medical and surgical specialties patients prefer a semiformal style of dress over formal suits and white coats. Casual dress styles were less popular. In the New Zealand setting this would involve dressing in a tidy, semiformal manner in conservative clothing. In a study done in the US, South Carolina, respondents from an internal medicine outpatient clinics overwhelmingly favor professional attire with white coats for physicians.

This could be due to a more formal attitude in the south of the US. A happy face and smart attire is all that is needed. What to wear today? Steve Lamberti How Should Psychiatrists Dress? M Lill Deb December 5, pm. Dealing with Depression December 12, pm. Medical Journal of Australia, 7 : — Google Scholar. Menahem S. Is our appearance important to our patients?. Family Practice 15 5 : — Zwart D. The white coat in pediatrics: link between medical history and preference for informally dressed physicians.

Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeeskunde 42 : — CAS Google Scholar. Download references. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. Correspondence to Nikhil D. Nihalani M.

Nikhil D. Reprints and Permissions. Nihalani, N. How Should Psychiatrists Dress? Community Ment Health J 42, — Download citation.