Am J Psychiatry 1987; 144:1042-1048
Copyright © 1987 by American Psychiatric Association
Are we training too many psychiatrists?
J Yager and JF Borus
In contrast to the past decade's concerns about an undersupply of
psychiatric manpower, the authors point out that the profession may soon be
facing the prospect of an oversupply of psychiatrists. Given the present
rate of producing psychiatrists, shifts in demands for psychiatric
services, changing payment and access patterns regarding specialty medical
care, increasing numbers of nonpsychiatrist mental health professionals,
and a probable surfeit of primary care physicians, underemployment of
psychiatrists may become commonplace. Future psychiatrists will likely be
used more as consultants, and the profession will need fewer, but better
trained, graduates. The authors present alternative proposals to deal with
service needs related to such reductions.
