Survey of U.S. and Canadian medical schools on admissions and psychiatrically at-risk students.

A survey of directors of admissions and chairmen of departments of psychiatry in U.S. and Canadian medical schools was undertaken concerning problems of the identification of students with emotional problems prior to admission and the role of psychiatry faculty members on the admissions committee. In general, the respondents felt that the preadmission interview was the best opportunity to identify the at-risk student but that current interview procedures would have to be improved. The respondents also indicated that U.S. law, which prohibits asking questions about psychiatric problems or treatment, is restrictive and greatly reduces the potential effectiveness of the interview. The survey results are compared with the results of earlier surveys.