Attitude of Non-Psychiatry Residents towards Psychiatry: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aim: The attitude of Non Psychiatry Post Graduate Residents towards Psychiatry is crucially important because of its influence on impressionable medical students and the large number of psychiatric patients who present to Non Psychiatry Doctors like General Practitioners. Present study was done with an aim to study the Non-Psychiatric Doctor Attitude towards Psychiatry.

Material and Methods: Present study was Conducted at two Major Institute: K. M School Post-Graduate medicine and Research and B.J. Medical College at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. At Both Institute Psychiatric lectures during 1st MBBS, lectures on Psychiatry during final MBBS and 2 week clinical rotation during final MBBS. Modified version of attitude towards Psychiatry questionnaire (Nielsen and Eaton, 1981) was the study instrument. The non- Psychiatry post-graduate students were asked to fill the Questionnaire. Questionnaire consists of 21 statements to be responded with one of the three alternate responses- Agree, neutral and disagree.

Results: Most P.G. thought that Psychiatry is making advancement and most was positive about psychoanalysis. Only 6.6% of P.G.s thought that Psychiatry is unscientific and inexact. With respect of therapeutic efficacy 83.8% would refer emotionally upset family members for Psychiatry consultation. Psychiatrist were considered as unclear thinker by 8% and overly apologetic in teaching. 40% agreed that psychiatrist tended to over analyze human behaviour.27% of P.G.s thought that on an average psychiatrist make less money than other physician.31% of P.G.s viewed that Psychiatry status as low compared to other specialties. 47% agreed that Psychiatry are often rightly seen by others as odd, peculiar and emotionally disturb them.

Conclusion: Non Psychiatry Post-Graduates at a tertiary hospital in Gujarat have a moderately positive attitude to Psychiatry. However some erroneous beliefs are still prevalent among the consultants. The attitude of Non-Psychiatry consultants directly/indirectly affects the development of Psychiatry as a discipline.