Different opinions have been expressed and discussed about the opportunity for physicians to exert a political role, with consequent social, political and cultural effects on Society. To play such a role would undoubtedly pose dramatic ethical questions. This would be particularly true for psychiatrists.

To investigate and describe the opinions of final-year medical students at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy), about the relationships between medicine, psychiatry, ethics and politics.

A mix-method two-phased design was adopted for the present study: in the first phase, medical students were invited to attend an online ad-hoc semi-structured 10-questions survey, leaving “generous” open space for comments. in the second phase of the study (respondent validation), the same students were invited to participate to a focus group.

Qualitative analysis of thick description was performed using the software MAXQDA 10.

The response rate to the survey was 66.96%. Opinions of students were almost balanced on the suggestion that physicians play (or should play) a political role in Society, with a minimal majority (53.3%) agreeing. Differently, the majority of students (84%) agreed on attributing a political role to the psychiatrist, who should be committed in fighting against marginalization, social exclusion and stigma.

The relationship between medicine and politics is still well-ponderated, as far as students’ opinions are concerned; differently, the relationship between psychiatry and politics emerges as being a fundamental element of the profession and its repercussions on the social context.