Medical Students Selecting Psychiatric Careers—A Distinct Breed

Abstract

Questionnaires were completed by 1254 students at three medical schools (response rate =83%). Students considering a career in psychiatry (N= 187, 17%) were more likely female, older and white and less likely to have been undergraduate science majors. Compared to students not considering a career in psychiatry, their college class rank and MCAT nonsrience scores were equivalent, but their science scores were lower. They were distinctly different not only in their attitudes towards psychiatry and psychiatric education, but in their personal interests and attitudes towards patient care. Drawing from cross-sectional data, the percentage considering psychiatric careers appeared to increase steadily over the four years, and students further along in medical school showed a more positive view of the specialty.