Young psychiatrists

Psychiatry is failing to recruit sufficient British graduates, reflecting a decline over the past 10 years in the proportion of medical students who are contemplating a career in psychiatry, and there are indications that the specialty is not getting its fair share of the best graduates. By a further analysis of the 1969 follow-up of a sample of the medical students surveyed by ASME in 1961 an attempt was made to compare the undergraduate record of trainee psychiatrists with doctors in other specialties. Interesting information on matters such as medical schools, work settings, and reading habits has emerged but the central question of the quality of psychiatrists remains unanswered. Further investigation, for example, medical students' attitudes to a career in psychiatry, is necessary as a preliminary to any recommendations to improve recruitment to the specialty.