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Clinical Psychology Training in India

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Psychiatry in India:
Training & training
centres Second Edition

Editors:
T.S. Sathyanarayana Rao
Abhinav Tandon

Publisher:

Indian Journal of Psychiatry

www.indianjpsychiatry.org
Psychiatry in India : Training & training centres
Second edition, the supplement of Indian Journal of Psychiatry

Editors:
T.S. Sathyanarayana Rao
Abhinav Tandon
© Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2015
Original ISBN No: Print ISSN 0019-5545 E-ISSN 1998 - 3794
Archived at www.indianjpsychiatry.org
First print: 2011
Revised & Updated edition : 2013
 Second Edition: 2015
Composed and Printed at:
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Cover design by :
Darshan M.S.
Consultant Neuropsychiatrist
Formerly Resident, Dept. of Psychiatry, JSSMC
Mysuru, Karnataka, India.
& Late Anjana M.S.

Copyright © 2015 The entire contents are protected under Indian and International copyrights.
Disclaimer: The information and opinions presented in the Journal and in this book Indian Research in
Psychiatry: A Journey of six decades reflect the views of the authors and not of the Journal or its Editorial Board
or the Publishers. Publication does not constitute endorsement. Neither the Indian Journal of Psychiatry / Indian
Research in Psychiatry: A Journey of six decades nor its publishers nor anyone else involved in creating,
producing or delivering the materials contained therein, assumes any liability or responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness, or usefulness of any information provided nor shall they be liable for any direct, indirect,
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respect accurate or complete, and they are not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained
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Editorial Office
T. S. Sathyanarayana Rao
Professor and Formerly Head, Department of Psychiatry,
JSS Medical College Hospital, JSS University
M.G. Road, Mysuru - 570004, India
Tel : 0821-2335187
Mob: +91 9845282399 Fax: No. 0821- Email: Website: www.indianjpsychiatry.org
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tssrao19@gmail.com

Editorial Team
Honorary Editor T. S. Sathyanarayana Rao, Mysuru

Honorary Associate Editors K.S. Shaji, Trissur

Sandeep Grover, Chandigarh

Prasad G Rao
Honorary Deputy Editor , Hyderabad
O.P. Singh , Kolkata

Abhinav Tandon
Honorary Assistant Editor , Allahabad

Honorary Field Editors Swaminath G, Bangalore

 Ajay Singh, Mumbai
Bhatia M.S., Delhi
Chittaranjan Andrade, Bangalore
Debasish Basu, Chandigarh
Devasish Ray, Kolkata
Kamala Deka, Dibrugarh
Kangan Pathak, Guwahati
Margoob Mustaq Ahmed, Srinagar
Om Prakash, New Delhi
Nilesh Shah, Mumbai
Prathap Tharyan, Vellore
Rajshekhar Bipeta, Hyderabad
Sonia Parial, Raipur
Sujata Sethi, Rohtak
Sujit Sarkhel, Ranchi
Suresh Kumar, Chennai
Tandon S.K., Bhopal
Thara, Chennai
Vikram Kumar Yeragani, Bangalore
Vinod Sinha, Ranchi
Vivek C. Kirpekar, Nagpur

41
Clinical Psychology Training in India
L.S.S. Manickam

Clinical psychology is an applied branch of psychology that integrates

science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate
maladjustment, disability, and discomfort as well as to promote human
adaptation, adjustment, and personal development. It also focuses on
the intellectual, emotional, cognitive, biological, psychological, social,
and behavioral aspects of human functioning across the life span, in
varying [1] cultures, and at all socioeconomic levels

As an independent discipline, clinical psychology was started in the

year 1955 at the Department of Clinical Psychology, All India Institute
of Medical Sciences (NIMHANS). The program was titled as DMP
(Diploma in Medical [2] Psychology) and was recognized by the Medical
Council of India Similar program was later started at the Central
Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi in 1962. This two year course was
offered in different titles until 1996 it was titled as M.Phil in Clinical
Psychology. In 1997 the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) started
regulating this two year regular, full time program that is to be pursued
after obtaining regular Masters in Psychology degree and selected to
the program through an entrance examination. Following this several
other institutions started offering this program and currently there are
11 centers in the country that are offering this program ( Appendix1).

Though American Psychological Association views Clinical Psychology

as a general practice and health service provider specialty in
professional psychology, in India it is yet to get the appropriate
recognition due to the [3] paucity of clinical psychologists The role of
Clinical psychologists is to assess, diagnose, predict, prevent, and
treat psychopathology, mental disorders and other individual or group
problems to improve behavior adjustment, adaptation, personal
effectiveness and satisfaction. The current M.Phil in clinical
psychology program envisages a person with Masters in Psychology
to become a service provider as well as a scientist.

What distinguishes Clinical Psychology as a general practice specialty

is the breadth of problems addressed and of populations served.
Clinical
396 Psychiatry in India : Training & training centres
Psychology, in research, education, training and practice, focuses on
individual differences, abnormal behavior and mental disorders and
their prevention as well as lifestyle enhancement. However the
present two year training is inadequate and it may be replaced with a
3 year Psy.D program in Clinical Psychology after sufficient revamping
and /or 4 year PhD in Clinical Psychology after the Masters in
Psychology. This may prevent brain drain and would also ensure
appropriate employment opportunities in par with the other specialties.
While making changes care has to be taken so that the trained clinical
psychologists could also be motivated to take up research as well as
teaching assignments in Universities which need a Ph.D degree as the
basic qualification for employment as per the current rules and
regulations.

Clinical Psychology Training Models in India

If one evaluates the different training programs that are offered in

India, there [1] are 4 models of Clinical Psychology training in India

1. Mental Hospital Model: This is the oldest model that was started in
1955, at the All India Institute of Mental Health (now NIMHANS),
which was associated with the mental hospital. The students get
supervised training while working with inpatients and out patients
attending the mental hospital and later got extended to the
Neurology Departments. Currently it is followed in institutes like
CIP, Ranchi, IHBAS Delhi, and RINPAS, Ranchi. In addition, in
view of the guidelines of training provided by RCI, the trainees
get rotatory supervised training in General Hospital set up. There
are more centers that have evinced to start this model of training
in centers attached to the Mental hospitals /Institutes of Mental
Health at Agra, Chandigarh, Chennai and Hyderabad.

2. Super Specialty Model: This model was started in 1999 at Manipal

University and was based on the guidelines of RCI. The program
is offered at the independent department of clinical psychology
under the faculty of Allied Health Sciences and in close link with
 other departments of medical college hospital, including
department of psychiatry. The students get supervised training at
different departments like Pediatrics, Cardiology and Neurology.
Training programs at RIMPS, Manipal and Sri Ramachandra
University, Chennai follow this model. There are more centers in
the South including JSS University, Mysore that had taken
initiative to start programs based on this model.

3. Rehabilitation Institute Model: The program of this nature was

started at Sweekar, Secunderabad in 2005. The training occurs
primarily in a rehabilitation center, with exposure to other areas of
clinical psychology, including mandatory posting in rotation in
different
L.S.S. Manickam: Clinical Psychology Training in India 397medical specialties
including psychiatry. More Non Governmental Organizations
working in the area of mental health and disability can initiate
similar programs, that largely cater to the disabled population.

4. University Department Model- This is primarily the model that is

followed in US, popularly known as the Boulder Model. In the past
it was opined that this model has to be experimented in India
since it provides greater opportunity for the clinical psychologists
to grow. However it was started at the University of Kolkata in
2006 and later at Amity University, UP. The program although
based at the University department, includes the mandatory
postings in different medical specialties including psychiatry, as
specified by the regulatory council, RCI. This gives the
opportunity for the trainees to acquire the skills to provide help to
the student community at large through clinics established within
the University campus.

We are yet to evaluate the different models of training. However

considering the vastness and the diversity of our country, we need to
make more innovative approaches in our training. Community based
model and school based model can be tried out. As in the developed
countries, the specialties like school psychology and community
psychology, as distinct disciplines may not emerge soon in our
country. Therefore, we may have to experiment with different models
of clinical psychology training. Non-governmental
organizations providing clinical psychology service in rural settings and
that has facilities to provide mandatory training in hospital setting may
start the program with emphasis on rural mental health.

Clinical Psychology And The Emerging Fields

Clinical Child Psychologists who work with children and who help the
learning disabled children in their assessment as well as in providing
psychological support and remedial training have already established
themselves like the psychotherapists and those who work in addiction
centers. However there are some other fields that are emerging in our
country.

Clinical Health Psychology

The training programs that were offered in the medical college setting
has brought out research relating to different health conditions.
Research in this area helped to develop specialties like, psycho
oncology, psycho nephrology, cardiac rehabilitation, and also develop
programs for changing life styles related to cardiac patients and other
disciplines related to medicine. It had also promoted research and
service related to dental health.
398 Psychiatry in India : Training & training centres
Clinical Forensic Psychology

The family courts as well as other courts including High Courts seek
the expert opinion of the clinical psychologists. With the increase in
use of the brain mapping and profiling procedures and with the
introduction of various forensic psychological investigative procedures
the branch of clinical forensic psychology is emerging. The scope is
high since the homegrown terrorism as well as international terrorism
is posing challenge to the people of our nation. Interrogation of the
suspects has to be done carefully and the clinical forensic
psychologists are trained in that skill. With the starting of clinical
psychology program at the forensic setting at Gujrat, yet another model
of training is likely to emerge.

Rehabilitation Psychology

Working with disabled persons, and focusing on the assessment and

caring for them, the branch of rehabilitation psychology has already
emerged. Though, the rehabilitation psychologists are trained by the
clinical psychologists, their training takes place in the setting where
the service delivery to the intellectually challenged occurs. However it
may take some time for the rehabilitation psychologists to get focused
on the chronically mentally ill as well as those who need
neuropsychological rehabilitation.

Clinical Neuropsychology

From administration of 'imported' neuropsychological tests in the

eighties, we have grown to a phase where we have developed
different neuropsychological batteries in several indigeneous
languages for the different populations that help us to assess the
extent as well as the area of dysfunction. Cognitive science is
emerging as a distinct discipline of much significance and therefore
the clinical neuropsychologists have a larger stake. Moreover the
advancements made in the area of nuero psychological rehabilitation
is very helpful for a wide variety of population.

The Need of the Hour

The "Status of Disability in India- 2000” report provided by the RCI

estimated that India required 20,000 clinical psychologists in 2000 to
meet the exclusive [4] needs of the disabled persons The number of
clinical psychologists that is required to meet the challenges of
disabled persons as projected in this report by 2020 could be double
this figure- about 40,000. However the role of the clinical psychologists
are not limited to the disabled alone. If the clinical psychologists have
to render services as a general practice health provider, the number
required even to meet the present needs is far higher than what is
estimated.
L.S.S. Manickam: Clinical Psychology Training in India 399 The
country would have trained around 2000 clinical psychologists so far.
But the number available in the country for providing service is far
less. Clinical psychology training has to take a big leap in India in the
second decade of this century. The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare of the Government of India is well aware of the need for
increasing the number of trained mental health professionals in the
country. Therefore directives have been given for starting clinical
psychology training programs in centers of excellence in different parts
of the country. However to materialize this in increasing pace requires
the support of all the mental health professionals as well as the other
health professionals.

The IACP has about 650 professional members and another 280
associated members including other professionals such as
psychologists who are specialists in other areas including counseling,
education etc and psychiatrists, social workers, lawyers and other
professionals interested in clinical psychology. As a NGO it has got
consultative status with some of the Ministries of the Government of
India and as a result the representatives of the association are called
for consultations. We are hopeful that Rehabilitation Council of India or
another new council that is likely regulate the clinical psychology
training programs in future, do consult IACP in molding and nurturing
the training program. The changes that are in anvil in restructuring the
councils, we trust would bring about the desirable results that help the
growth of the profession of clinical psychology and psychology in a
larger perspective- in taking up the challenges of this great country.

REFERENCE
1. Manickam L S S. Enabling the Disabled, Ind J of Clin. Psy 2009: 36;7-10. 2. Handbook
of All India Institute of Mental Health, Bangalore: All India Institute of Mental Health
(NIMHANS) 1959.
3. American Psychological Association. 2009 Presidential Task Force on the Future of
Psychology Practice Final Report. Washington: American Psychological
Association;2009.
4. Singh JP. Ten Years of Progress: RCI towards Nation Building. New Delhi:
Rehabilitation Council of India, 2004.

Appendix 1
(iacp.in)

RCI Recognized Training Centers offering M.Phil In Clinical

Psychology in India
1. Sweekar Rehabilitation Institute for Handicapped, Secunderabad- Andhra Pradesh
sweekaar.org/secbad.html
2. Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural and Medical Sciences, Raipur,
Chatishgarh 3. Institute of Human Behavior And Allied Sciences, Delhi.
ihbas.delhigovt.nic.in
400 Psychiatry in India : Training & training centres
4. Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi, 834006, Jharkand cipranchi.nic.in/Index.html
 5. Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry & Allied Sciences (RINPAS), Ranchi Jharkhand
rinpas.nic.in/index.html
6. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka manipal.edu
7. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
nimhans.kar.nic.in
8. Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal, Manipur, www.rims.edu.in
9. Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, www.srmc.edu
10. Amity Institute of Behavioural Health & Allied Science, Noida, UP
amity.edu 11. Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta,
Kolkata,700009.:
mhilcal@gmail.com

L.S.S. Manickam
Professor in Clinical Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
JSS University Mysore

Hon. General Secretary of the

Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists.
lssmanickam@gmail.com

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