UNION EUROPENNE DES

MDECINS SPCIAL ISTES

SECTION FOR PSYCHIATRY

EUROPEAN BOARD OF PSYCHIATRY

Administrative Secretary: Mrs Joanna Carroll

Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, LONDON SW1X 8PG, United Kingdom
T: +44 20 7235 2351 x123; F: +44 20 7235 7976; E: jcarroll@rcpsych.ac.uk

07 March 2008
Dr Bernard Maillet
Secretary general
UEMS
Av.de la Couronne, 20,
B-1050 Brussels
Belgium
Dear Bernard
Re: White Book on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in
Europe
The UEMS Section and Board of Psychiatry refer to the recently
published "White Book on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
(PRM) in Europe" which was discussed at our Autumn 2007
meeting in Geneva.
Delegates were concerned about the term "physiatrists" used in
this book to refer to physical and rehabilitation medicine
specialists. Although it is assumed that the term has been coined
as a new word to describe these specialists, it is so similar to the
term "psychiatrist" as to be easily construed as a spelling mistake
and in fact intended to mean psychiatrist.
Furthermore, we are concerned about the use of the term
"Rehabilitative Medicine" which has been linked only to physical
medicine, whereas we feel that its use should more correctly be
extended to all medical specialities, thus also encompassing
rehabilitation in psychiatry.
For these reasons our Section and Board are strongly
recommending that the UEMS Council consider identifying an
alternative term to "physiatrists", which is more readily
distinguishable from "psychiatrist" and which more clearly depicts
the intended medical speciality. Furthermore, our Section and
Board strongly recommend extending the use of the term
"Rehabilitative Medicine" to all medical specialities.
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing
from you in due course.
Regards,
Dr Kari Pylkknen Dr Joseph Saliba
President Hon. Secretary
Section of Psychiatry Section and Board of Psychiatry
President of the Section:
Dr Kari Pylkknen
Finnish Psychiatric Association
Finnish Student Health Service
Toolonkatu 37A
HELSINKI 00260, Finland
T: +358 9 405 0680
F: +358 9 405 0699
E: kari.pylkkanen@yths.f
President of the Board:
Dr James Strachan
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Morningside Park
Edinburgh EH10 5HF, Scotland, UK
T: +44 131 537 6438
F: +44 131 537 6117
E: james.strachan@lpct.scot.nhs.uk
Vice-President of the Section:
Dr Eva Plov
Slovak Psychiatric Society
University of P.J. afrik
Department of Psychiatry, SNP 1
040 11 KOSICE, Slovakia
T: +421 55 640 2727/4537
F: +421 55 644 0781
E: palovae@ke.sknet.sk
Vice-President of the Section:
Dr Brigitte Mauthner
Austrian Medical Chamber
Neurologische Krankenhaus Rosenhgel
Abteilung fr Kinder-und-Jugend Neuropsychiatrie
Riedelg. 5, 1130 VIENNA, Austria

Tel: 43 1 88 000
Fax: 43 1 368 69 65
E-mail: biggi.mauthner@utanet.at
Vice-President of the Board:
Professor Paul Hodiamont
Dutch Psychiatric Association
Eekhoornstraat 2
6531 TB NIJMEGEN, Netherlands
T: +31 24 355 62 17
E: p.hodiamont@mailbox.kun.nl
Vice-President of the Board:
Prof Slavko Ziherl
Psychiatric Association of Slovenia
University Psychiatric Hospital
Studenec 48
1260 LJUBLJANA, Slovenia
T: +386 1 587 24 67
F: +386 1 529 41 11
E: slavko.ziherl@psih-klinika.si
Secretary:
Dr Joseph Saliba
Medical Association of Malta
Maltese Assoc. of Specialists in Psychiatry
The Professional Centre
Sliema Road
Gzira GZR 06, Malta
T: +356 2330 4005
F: +356 2141 5009
E: jrsaliba@waldonet.net.mt
Treasurer:
Dr Brendan Cassidy
Irish Medical Association
Cluain Mhuire Centre
Newtownpark Avenue
BLACKROCK
Co Dublin; Ireland
T: 353 1 2172100
Fax: 353 1 2833886
E-mail: Brendan.Cassidy@sjog.ie