Professional Characteristics of Psychiatric Residents Trained at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, 1956–1975

Abstract

Psychiatrists who trained at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute Residency program from 1956–1975 were surveyed about their current professional activities. The large majority lead diversified careers. Less than half of responding graduates spend more than half of their professional time in office private practice and more than three-fourths have medical school appointments. Fewer recent graduates have engaged in psychoanalytic training and more have taken post-residency subspecialty fellowships. Recent graduates have been more involved with administrative, consultative, and hospital work than earlier graduates. Recent graduates also more frequently report marital/family problems, socio-economically disadvantaged patients, minority group patients, epilepsy, and group therapy methods to be very or moderately important in their work. Factors contributing to changing practice patterns are discussed.