Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42029158›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2026

Why followership matters in psychiatry: rebalancing our obsession with leadership.

Richard A Laugharne, Regi T Alexander, Kenneth R Kaufman, Derek K Tracy, Fabida Aria, Mayura Deshpande, Matthew Frost, Rohit Shankar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Richard A LaugharneCornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER), Peninsula Medical School, https://ror.org/008n7pv89University of Plymouth, Truro, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9916-343X
Regi T AlexanderAdult Intellectual Disability Service, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Hatfield, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3554-2948
Kenneth R KaufmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey, US.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7924-4902
Derek K TracyDepartment of Psychiatry, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3609-9407
Fabida AriaDepartment of Psychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Mayura DeshpandeDepartment of Psychiatry, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Matthew FrostPlymouth Marine Laboratory, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
Rohit ShankarCornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER), Peninsula Medical School, https://ror.org/008n7pv89University of Plymouth, Truro, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1183-6933

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Psychiatry emphasises leadership development, but neglects the equally universal and essential role of followership. Although most clinicians spend more time as followers than leaders, literature overwhelmingly favours leadership. Drawing on healthcare, socio-religious traditions and management science, the authors reframe followership as an active, values-driven role grounded in trust, motivation and moral courage rather than passive compliance. This editorial argues that effective followership is active, ethical and courageous. Nurturing good followers in mental health services is essential for good patient care, organisational integrity and sustainable leadership. Cultivating active followership strengthens safeguarding, transparency and organisational legitimacy. The editorial calls for psychiatry and mental health services to explicitly teach and value followership alongside leadership, promoting shared vision, psychological safety and accountable decision-making to improve patient care and professional culture.

Indexed as

Education and trainingethicsmental health servicespatients and service usersphilosophy

Identifiers

PMID42029158
PMCPMC13122336

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.