Images of psychiatry: Attitude survey of teaching medical specialists of India.

CONTEXT

Attitude of teaching medical specialists shapes those of future doctors. Region-specific data on teaching medical specialists' attitudes toward psychiatry (ATP) are lacking from India.

AIMS

This study aimed to assess the attitudes of teaching medical specialists toward psychiatry and its association with sociodemographic profile and career stage.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Attitude towards psychiatry (ATP) was assessed from 188 specialists from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar and AIIMS Jodhpur using modified ATP scale-30.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Descriptive statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Associations of ATP with sociodemographic status, career stage, and family history of psychiatric illness were done using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Overall response rate was 81.68%, and gender (confidence interval [C.I.]: 2.026-7.410, = 0.000) and super-specialization (C.I.: 2.167-19.479, = 0.021) were independent significant predictors for difference in attitudes. Female gender and super-specialization were associated with better attitudes. Ninety percent of participants had favorable attitude toward psychiatric illness. Four-fifth felt psychiatric patients to be as human as other patients and found psychiatric treatments effective. More than half felt that psychiatry does not stand among the three most exciting specialties and psychiatrists get less work satisfaction. Only one third said that they would have liked to be a psychiatrist.

CONCLUSIONS

Attitudes were favorable toward patients and psychiatric interventions whereas unfavorable toward psychiatry as a discipline.