title: Psychiatric residents' interest in psychotherapy and training stage: a multi-site survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most psychiatric residents enter training intent on learning both psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions. After graduation, however, many emphasize pharmacotherapy over psychotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multisite survey of psychiatry residents queried psychotherapy interests, attitudes, and practice intentions. Factors associated with self-reported decreased interest in psychotherapy since beginning residency were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 11.8% of the entire sample (n = 229 PGY1-PGY4 residents) reported decreased interest in psychotherapy during training, among PGY4s the corresponding figure was 16.4%. Positive attitudes towards psychotherapy, and self-perceived competence in cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic psychotherapy were most highly correlated with maintained interest in psychotherapy. Dissatisfaction with the quality of psychotherapy faculty and curriculum, and viewing departmental leadership as unsupportive of psychotherapy training were correlated with decreased interest during training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maintaining residents' interest in psychotherapy requires improvements in curriculum, teaching, and supervision throughout training. Our data underscore the crucial role that departmental leadership must play in supporting trainees' goals of becoming comprehensively trained psychiatrists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, 116A, La Jolla, CA 92093-116A, USA. szisook@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zisook
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McQuaid
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciolla
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lanouette
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Laura B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires