I wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed by Nicola Phillips in her letter ‘Who wants to be a specialist registrar?’ (Psychiatric Bulletin, March 2005, 29, 115). One of the biggest worries one has when applying for specialist registrar posts is the absence of research experience on one's CV.

Research is clearly very important for the advancement of psychiatry or for any other specialty for that matter. It is also important that trainees be encouraged to do research work. But does every single trainee have to do research work? Not everybody has the same aptitudes and interests; research for the sake of research is not very helpful. Some trainees are more interested in being good clinicians or have other special interests. For example, a special interest in psychotherapy should be given the same weight age as one in research.

It is also time to consider the research day that all registrars are given. It might not be the most effective use of time for someone who is not interested in research. As much as science needs good research, patients need good clinicians and psychiatry needs professionals with different interests.