Nonpsychiatric Physicians' Attitudes toward Psychiatry

The purpose of the study was to examine nonpsychiatric physicians' attitudes toward psychiatry. 129 physicians responded to the questionnaire regarding attitudes toward psychiatry. A majority were favorable about psychiatric education, psychiatric consultation, psychoanalysis, students' choice of psychiatry as a career, and psychiatrists. Staff were more positive toward psychiatry than residents, and senior staff were more positive about psychiatry than junior staff. Overall, however, no significant differences were found in attitudes toward psychiatry between nonsurgical physicians and surgeons, although staff or residents in nonsurgical departments were more favorable about some aspects of psychiatry than staff or residents in surgical departments. The physicians with more interest in psychiatry as a career in the past were more likely to to be positive about psychiatry as a comprehensive science and a rapidly expanding field of medicine. Physicians with older age were more likely to be positive about status and efficacy of psychiatry, role and functioning of psychiatrists than those with. younger age. The results suggest that previous interest in psychiatry, age and clinical experience favorably influenced physicians' attitude toward psychiatry. In addition, development of models for psychiatric education will be needed to enhance physicians' attitude toward psychiatry.ope