Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:51-55
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Personality, interests, and emotional disturbance in psychiatric residents
PE Garfinkel and EM Waring
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.
