Good Psychiatric Practice (3rd edition) sets out standards of practice for psychiatrists. It is aligned to the General Medical Council's (GMC's) Good Medical Practice (2006), the standards for all medical practitioners. In this edition, the GMC standards are followed by the additional standards required for good psychiatric practice. Repetition of standards is avoided where possible. Good Medical Practice (2006) is not reproduced in full in this document but is available at www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/index.asp.

CR154 replaces the second edition of Good Psychiatric Practice (CR125). The document has been revised with the GMC's approach to revalidation in mind. The standards set out in Good Psychiatric Practice are those psychiatrists will need to meet for recertification in the UK. Reference is also made to legal principles relevant to the UK. The standards of practice do, however, apply to members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, or other psychiatrists, whatever their grade, whatever the clinical setting and wherever they are practising.

CR154 covers the following areas.

1. • The duties of a doctor registered with the GMC

2. • Core attributes – good psychiatrists

3. • Good clinical care

4. • Maintaining good practice

5. • Teaching, training, appraising and assessing

6. • Relationships with patients

7. • Consent

8. • Confidentiality

9. • Working with colleagues

10. • Working with management

11. • Research

12. • Probity