The importance of appraising articles and conducting psychiatric journal clubs.

Current models of academic research and publishing, which can reward practices vulnerable to multiple forms of bias, make the consistent and valued use of journal clubs in psychiatric education and continuing professional development more important than ever. The literature shows that journal clubs can provide a valuable forum for mental health clinicians to update themselves on recent medical and scientific knowledge, while practicing and teaching skills in critical appraisal of research, statistics, clinical decision-making and epidemiology.