Interferences in collaboration between child psychiatrists and pediatricians: a fundamental difference in attitude toward childhood.

The relationship between pediatrics and child psychiatry has been discussed at length. Opportunities seem to exist for cooperation between the two specialties, and yet difficulties exist. This study compared attitudes toward childhood held by pediatricians and child psychiatrists, as well as by residents at the beginning and end of training in pediatrics, psychiatry, and child psychiatry. The attitudinal assessment tool was a 30-item questionnaire consisting of literary quotations with which respondents were asked to agree or disagree. The results suggest that pediatricians view childhood more positively than do child psychiatrists. These attitudinal differences exist at the beginning of residency training. Recommendations are made regarding how to facilitate better collaboration between pediatricians and child psychiatrists.