[Students' attitudes towards psychotherapy: changes after a course on psychic functions in health and illness]. / Einstellungen von Medizinstudenten zu Psychotherapie: Veränderungen nach Unterricht über Psychische Funktionen in Gesundheit und Krankheit.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the attitude of medical students towards psychotherapy and the influence of lectures on psychotherapy during the medical curriculum on these attitudes. METHODS: 2 years in a row, medical students of the Medical University of Vienna in their fourth academic year were asked regarding their attitudes, connotations and associations towards psychotherapy before and after a 5-week psychotherapeutic course. RESULTS: The attitudes of the medical students were predominantly positive, while some prejudices could be found. The students' sex and prior experience with psychotherapy influenced their attitudes. The attitudes turned out to be relatively resistant to change through teaching. CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for the small influence of the training program on the students' attitudes and possible improvements of the course (small lecture groups) are discussed.