A Multi-Site Survey of General Psychiatry Residents' Forensic Training

The authors surveyed general psychiatry residents across the United States to better understand residents' experiences with forensic training and to identify variables with the greatest impact on residents' exposure to, comfort with, and desire to learn more about forensic populations and settings. The survey inquired about these topics and the forensic psychiatry resources available at residents' training institutions. Respondents (n = 129) spanned eight of ten U.S. census regions. Residents' comfort with forensic psychiatry was low, whereas desire to learn was high. Residents' number of exposures and comfort increased with greater forensic experience in residency. Fewer than half of residents had completed a forensic rotation, were required to complete a forensic rotation, or had robust forensic resources available to them. Residents who had completed a dedicated forensic rotation had significantly greater forensic exposures and comfort; a finding that remained significant even after controlling for participants' PGY status. Among residents pursuing fellowship training, residents interested in forensic fellowship had more exposures during residency. This study represents the first published effort to survey general psychiatry residents from multiple residency programs regarding their forensic experiences in training. These results have implications for educators interested in developing broader exposure to and comfort with forensic psychiatry.