summary
In Flanders since the 1970's, considerable changes have been made in the content of training courses for psychiatrists. There have been changes in the amount and nature of the knowledge that trainees have to acquire; trainees have had to learn new skills and break with traditional attitudes. All these changes can be attributed to developments in the profession itself, e.g. a more scientific approach, medicalisation and evidence-based clinical practice. Nevertheless, the main focus is still on personal development. The master-apprentice model persists as the principal training method. In the near future there will be further changes in the content and format of the training given to psychiatrists who have recently obtained their Master's qualification.