Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Role relationships between nonphysician treatment team leaders and team psychiatrists

  • Articles
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many nonpsychiatrists are now functioning as psychiatric team leaders and ward administrators. Some authors have pointed out several advantages of this organizational arrangement, whereas others have reported on the problems that can and do arise. Specifically, conflicts between nonphysician team leaders and psychiatrists have been reported. Yet little has been written about the precise nature and cause of these conflicts. This paper attempts to assess the roles of the team leader and psychiatrist in order to discover areas of role overlap and conflicts. It is suggested that more formal structure and clarity in role delineation could eliminate many such conflicts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bernard, S. E., & Ishiyama, T. Authority conflicts in the structure of psychiatric teams.Social Work, 1960,5, 77–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bower, W. H. Recent developments in mental health manpower.Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 1970,21, 11–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brannon, E. P., & Waites, J. A. The role of the clinical psychologist in ward administration.American Journal of Psychiatry, 1955,111, 497–501.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. S., & Ishiyama, T. The role of leader in formal staff process.Comprehensive Psychiatry, 1967,8, 217–226.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cowen, J. R., & Schwartz, L. An experiment in the utilization of a clinical psychologist as a ward clinical administrator in a state psychiatric hospital.Psychiatric Quarterly, 1960,34, 472–479.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, J. The formal social structure of a psychiatric hospital.Psychiatry, 1954,17, 139–151.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ishiyama, T. Role clarification and sense for staff in mental hospitals.Mental Hygiene, 1968,52, 103–109.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sletten, I. W. Conflicts arising from dual control.Mental Hospitals, 1965,16, 142–144.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, H., and Harsch, H. The psychologist as a ward administrator: Current status,Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1966,22, 108–111.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • VanDusen, W., Klatte, E., & Wilson, W. Nonmedical unit administration.Mental Hospital, 1953,14, 483–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, W. W., & Gordon, H. L. The utilization of a psychologist in ward administration.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1957,13, 301–302.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Syracuse Psychiatric Hospital, 13210, Syracuse, New York

    Shirley A. Greiff M.A. (Senior Research Scientist) & Robert D. McDonald Ph.D. (Director of Research, Assistant Professor)

  2. Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York

    Robert D. McDonald Ph.D. (Director of Research, Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. Shirley A. Greiff M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert D. McDonald Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

An earlier version of this paper was read at the Eastern Psychiatric Research Conference, New York New York, April 1971.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Greiff, S.A., McDonald, R.D. Role relationships between nonphysician treatment team leaders and team psychiatrists. Community Ment Health J 9, 378–387 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410875

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01410875

Keywords

Search

Navigation