Teaching mental handicap to medical students

An innovative approach to the teaching of mental handicap to pre-clinical medical students as part of their Behavioural Sciences course is first described. The teaching is organized around a number of extended placements which allow students to interact with people with a mental handicap on a basis of equality and reciprocity. Students respond positively to the seminar, regarding it as enjoyable, interesting and relevant to their future work as doctors. Questionnaires administered to students participating in the seminar suggest that they have a generally positive image of mentally handicapped people and hold vaguely liberal views as to how they should be treated by Society. Few, however, wish to work in the mental handicap area. There is no evidence that the experience of the seminar leads to any significant change in these attitudes.