Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:1202-1205
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
The internship year: a negative view
SL Halleck
The decision to add a fourth year of training with emphasis on a primary
care internship experience has created serious problems for most
psychiatric residency training programs. The logistic problems involved in
having a department of psychiatry develop an internship program are
formidable. The experiences being provided are less than optimum.
Conceivably, the logistic and quality uncertainties that now characterize
some PGY-I programs may be a factor in discouraging medical graduates from
entering psychiatry. The reasons for moving to an internship experience are
also questionable. There are no data which suggest that the new training
will produce better psychiatrists. Nor can the case for the internship be
supported by past experience or an analysis of the educational needs of
today's psychiatrist. Dr. John Romano comments on the author's
presentation.
