Mandatory training in geriatric psychiatry: can programs deliver the goods?

There have been a number of recent attempts to establish guidelines and curricula for training of general psychiatry residents in geriatric psychiatry. However, concerns have arisen as to whether or not many training programs have the resources necessary to train residents using these guidelines. In an attempt to determine how closely training guidelines are adhered to, the Division of Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Toronto anonymously surveyed all general psychiatry residents completing their mandatory training in geriatric psychiatry between June 1992 and July 1993 (N = 30). The supervisors of these residents were surveyed anonymously as well (N = 15). The response rate was 83% for the residents and 80% for staff. In general, the training guidelines were closely adhered to except possibly for the required number of patient contact hours per week. The author concludes that when training guidelines are developed which include consideration of appropriate program resources and the number of residents required to train, residents and supervisors adhere closely to these guidelines.