[Professional concept of physicians in child and adolescent psychiatry in former East Germany (1990)].

For this study the authors prepared a questionnaire for 662 child and youth psychiatrists with a return quota of 45%. Careerwise most medical doctors--working as psychiatrists and psychotherapists with an equal distribution in hospitals and offices--acquired further special training and education, particularly in Pediatrics, Psychotherapy and Autogenous Training. Work performance meets general agreement: a noticeable lack of corresponding doctors offices, mainly due to the economic situation. Unequivocal agreement exists concerning the necessity of diagnosis, the necessity of out-patient and in-patient therapy, as well the necessity of interdisciplinary cooperation. The views, however, on the quality of cooperation and the hierarchy within the team show differences. Views on self-concept almost equally determined an identification as doctor and as psychotherapist. The main professional motivations were enjoyment, success and ability. The professional concept was unvocally agreed upon. The survey revealed a poor reputation of child and adolescent psychiatrists. Professional basics include preserving the complexity in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry including medical assignments onesidedness rejected. Conflicts arise concerning the "professional self concept", resulting from the thin line between the required separation of child and adolescent psychiatry and associated professions and the required cooperation with associated professions.