To determine the personality and attitudinal characteristics of
emotionally disturbed psychiatric residents and their short-term adjustment
the authors conducted a series of psychological tests with physicians
entering two psychiatric residency programs. Seventy residents completed
the test battery, which included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ),
the MMPI, the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and the Strong Vocational
Interest Blank. About 9% of the sample scored as cases on the GHQ, having
nonpsychotic emotional illness, and a further 5% scored as likely cases.
These physicians had significantly higher neuroticism scores and MMPI
depression, social isolation, schizophrenia, psychasthenia, and
hypochondriasis scores. Their interests were less like those of other
physicians or psychiatrists and more like those of bankers and office
workers.
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