I read with interest the article by Benning & Broadhurst (Psychiatric Bulletin, December 2007, 31, 441–442). Holism has become such a clichéin psychiatry. It is sad that at a time when other specialties are embracing the humanities, psychiatry seems to have started to neglect it.

Psychiatry has made a lot of progress over the last few decades. Paging through psychiatric journals filled with imaging studies and genetic breakthroughs showing remarkable discoveries, one can fully appreciate the changes that have been made. In response to these advances in psychiatry Dr. David J. Hellerstein argues that, ‘In exploring these new universes, we need not be only technicians and scientists, but also artists!’ (Reference HellersteinHellerstein, 2007).

The pressures on seeing patients within specified targets and this affair with all things biological has an impact on our patient care. This reductionist psychiatry with quick consultations and quick fixes fits in with the consumer society of ‘just add water and stir’. It is unfair to expect a pill to fix complex psychosocial problems.

It is all well and good to have holistic training, but you also need the support and resources to implement the techniques you have learned. In the proposed New Ways of Working we are expected as doctors to only see the most complicated cases. Hopefully, in this new scheme, there will be more time allocated to spend with patients and provide them with a more holistic treatment. Teaching will give the foundation to build from, but without the resources to implement holism they will become forgotten poems.

Declaration of interest

L.P. was awarded Laughlin prize for outstanding performance in old format MRCPsych exam, Autumn 2007. He is also involved in writing a multiple choice questions' book for the new format MRCPsych.