Psychiatric Education and Research System in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a lower-middle-income country of the Indian Subcontinent with a huge population density. Historically, education and research in mental health have been neglected in this region as well as in the country. Psychiatry is grossly under-prioritized in the undergraduate curriculum in the country. Before, independence mental health professionals were being trained in England. The first mental health specialist course was opened in 1975 named Diploma in Psychological Medicine which was ceased later. In 1979 a fellowship course [Fellow of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS)] was started under Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS). The organization also offers a short-duration membership course. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in psychiatry was started in 1995 and ceased eventually. The Doctor of Medicine (MD) in psychiatry was started in 1995 and revised in 2010 as “Residency Program”. The MD in child and adolescent psychiatry was started in 2016 and the FCPS in child and adolescent psychiatry was started in 2022. There are two specialized journals in psychiatry in Bangladesh. In this chapter, I have discussed the education and research system in psychiatry in Bangladesh.