Teaching psychiatry to medical undergraduates

There is now a greater awareness among academics that teaching skills, like clinical and research skills, must be acquired and practised, usually over an extended period of time. In addition, teachers have a great responsibility in ensuring that medical students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable them to become competent and effective doctors. Although teaching theory is complex, attention to a few simple techniques and careful planning of teaching sessions and courses can greatly improve the experience for both students and teachers. This article discusses some of the theoretical aspects of teaching medical students and is followed by three articles which specifically address the teaching of child and adolescent, general and old age psychiatry to medical undergraduates.