Child psychiatry program directors' ratings of residency experiences

Child and adolescent psychiatry program directors' (PDs) were asked to complete survey forms to rate the importance of required residency experiences and express views on length of training. There was a 93% return rate of questionnaires sent to the 129 academic programs represented in the Society of Professors of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The majority of PDs favor the status quo and do not want to add or subtract from the present requirements. Experiences most favored were those with older children, adolescents, and parents, and those in the use of psychopharmacology. Least favored experiences were with cognitive therapy, research, psychological testing, and teaching. There was little interest in eliminating the internship year or residency time with adults.