Postgraduate training in psychiatry 1977-87: disturbing trends in the pattern of international collaboration

A descriptive account is given of changes in the composition of the postgraduate medical student population at the Institute of Psychiatry from 1977 to 1987, focusing on total numbers, country or region of origin, previous experience, source of sponsorship and training requirements. It is concluded that economic influences in the UK and abroad exert profound effects on the pattern of training demand, the overall recent trend being away from government-sponsored developing-world trainees towards self-sponsored students from developed countries. The combined effect of developing-world poverty and financial pressure on UK academic institutions could be a failure to cater for the mental health needs of developing countries.