Whose suffering? – Carers and curers

I propose to discuss the role that psychodynamic understanding might have in a balanced psychiatric service. Too often psychiatry emphasises the medical model of curing the patients’ symptoms and pain – and there is a reason for that approach. It allows us to keep some distance from the suffering which carers may be confronted with if they attempt an understanding. My argument is that we cannot do without either – curing or caring. However, the role of understanding may need to be applied not just to patient experience but also at a different place. In particular, we need to understand the interaction of patient and mental health worker (user and carer) and the impact of that on carers and care institutions.