title: [Attitudes of medical students towards psychotherapeutic treatment and training].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Against the background of insufficient medical care for patients with psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders it is important to ascertain the interests and attitudes of medical students towards mental disorders, psychotherapeutic treatment and training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical students (N = 366) in their clinical training were given half-standardized questionnaires about their attitudes towards psychotherapeutic treatments, their career plans, psychosocial distress and sociodemographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an overall high interest in psychological distress of patients and in psychotherapeutic treatment methods. Contrary to these findings, however, only few medical students were willing to specialize in psychosomatic medicine, psychiatry or psychotherapy. Psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic career choices were more frequent in women as well as in students who had experienced psychological distress themselves, and who had undergone psychotherapy, and who were less oriented toward economic success and careers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical students regarded psychological characteristics as generally interesting and important for medical care, but rarely considered specializing in these medical fields after graduation. Potential remedies (e.g., improved teaching of psychosocial competences and psychotherapeutic knowledge, career counselling) are discussed.
authors: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. zwerenz@uni-mainz.de
authors: Rüdiger
authors: R
authors: Zwerenz
authors: Yvette
authors: Y
authors: Barthel
authors: Marianne
authors: M
authors: Leuzinger-Bohleber
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Gieler
authors: Gerd
authors: G
authors: Rudolf
authors: Reinhold
authors: R
authors: Schwarz
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Vogel
authors: Manfred E
authors: ME
authors: Beutel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D003625:Data Collection; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000193:education; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education*; D013038:Specialization; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*