Training directors' self-assessment of forensic education within residency training

The authors provide information pertaining to forensic education within psychiatry residency based upon training directors' self-assessment of their programs, utilizing the 2007 ACGME program requirements for forensic psychiatry as an assessment guideline.

A sample of 100 general psychiatry residency training directors from 182 training programs in the USA were selected by a random number generator to complete a survey to evaluate forensic training provided within their residency programs.

Seventy-one percent of the 100 surveyed training directors completed and returned the questionnaire. Ninety-three percent of training director respondents reported their program meets the ACGME program requirements for graduate medical education in forensic psychiatry. The forensic topics covered most thoroughly in general psychiatry training are involuntary civil commitment and violence risk assessment. The topics covered least thoroughly include exposure to courtroom testimony, writing a forensic report, and evaluating a defendant's criminal responsibility. The respondents further indicated most forensic psychiatry topics are covered more extensively through educational exposure than through clinical exposure.

Greater effort may be required to emphasize clinical and educational exposure to certain forensic psychiatry topics during the course of general psychiatry residency training, to ensure that the forensic topics of greatest importance are appropriately addressed.