Roles and functions of psychiatry medical staff in two services

Roles and functions of psychiatry medical staff are being reshaped by changes in psychiatry. In public health services, psychiatry medical staff are often members of multidisciplinary teams. Role confusion and conflict can be a source of dissatisfaction for all involved, and impair multidisciplinary team functioning and service effectiveness. Psychiatrists require greater understanding of the forces influencing their roles to negotiate effectively with other involved parties in public services. Investigation of how their roles are perceived will help identify contentious areas for clarification. This study explores the roles and functions of psychiatry medical staff in two multidisciplinary teams at two state-funded health services and the factors influencing these roles and functions, as perceived by medical staff, multidisciplinary team members, and clinical managers.