Role Conflicts and Their Ideological Resolution in Military Psychiatric Practice

The military psychiatrist may experience conflict between his role as psychiatrist and as military officer in several ways. The necessary change in emphasis from psychotherapy to consultation may run counter to his previous training and preference. Patients referred to him may suspect him as a "company" man, while line officers may regard him as patient-rather than service-oriented. The authors point out that a useful ideology for military psychiatry may be drawn out of various guidelines for conflict resolution pertaining to the entire Medical Corps, and they apply these to the specific conflicts likely to be encountered by the military psychiatrist.