[The career course of women and men psychiatrists]

Data from a survey distributed to all directors of psychiatric hospitals in Germany (n = 286) were used to examine sex differences in rank attainment among psychiatrists. Furthermore the directors were asked to assess differences between male and female psychiatrists concerning their professional activities. A total of 207 directors responded, 10 of them were female. In the rank of assistant doctors male psychiatrists predominated only at the university departments (61%). The position of a registrar was held mainly by male doctors in all types of hospitals: 78% at the university departments, 64% at psychiatric hospitals and 56% at psychiatric departments at general hospitals. 43.9% of the responders assessed women less interested in a professional career than men, 46.5% thought that women are more interested in treatment than in research activities, 43.5% admitted that in case of female applicants their private situation (family, children) is more important for the decision to give a job than in case of male ones. 87% of the directors found that a higher number of women within their teams is very important for a good work climate.