Why Many Do Not Become Good Psychiatrists: Reflections from Four Decades of Medical Teachin

This article offers a critical reflection on the main obstacles that hinder the training ofgood psychiatrists in Brazil, based on 45 years of experience in medical education andclinical practice. It argues that many enter psychiatry seeking to resolve their owninternal conflicts, which compromises their listening and empathy. Furthermore, thetechnicist and resolutive training, based on biological and fast models, prevents thedevelopment of an existential and longitudinal understanding of patients. Psychiatry, inthis model, is reduced to pharmacological prescription and referral to professionals fromother fields. The article proposes a revaluation of listening, ethical commitment, thepsychiatrist's own moral reform, and the integration between science, humanism, andspirituality as foundations for effective and lasting psychiatry