Gill Garden is a consultant psychiatrist at Pilgrim Hospital (Sibsey Road, Boston PE21 9QS, UK. E-mail: Gillian.Garden{at}ulh.nhs.uk). She trained in medicine, passing the membership examinations for the Royal College of Physicians before changing to psychiatry. She is a member of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) panel and an examiner for Part I of the Royal College of Psychiatrists membership examinations.
Physical disease is more prevalent in people with mental disorder than in the general population. It is important for psychiatrists to maintain skills in physical examination to ensure that physical illness is diagnosed and treated appropriately. A sound knowledge of medical illness ensures that examination is targeted at the relevant diseases. Mental health units should provide adequate facilities and equipment. All detailed examinations should be undertaken in the presence of a chaperone. Opportunities for psychiatrists to refresh their knowledge and skill are suggested.
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