[Career plans of French residents in Psychiatry: results of a National Survey]. / Souhaits de pratique des internes de psychiatrie : résultats d'une enquête nationale.

INTRODUCTION: For many years, the numerus clausus limiting the number of medical students has increased in France. The government wants to reform the residency process to homogenize medical studies. However, the suggested residency program changes would imply changes in the length of residency, in the mobility of residents after residency, their access to unconventional sectors, and more generally, the responsibility of the resident and his/her status in the hospital. In this context, we have investigated the future plans of all psychiatry residents in France. GOALS: To study the desires of psychiatry residents in France, regarding their training, their short and long-term career plans, and to analyze the evolution of those desires over the last 40 years. METHODOLOGY: A survey was carried out among residents in psychiatry from November 2011 to January 2012. An anonymous questionnaire including four parts (resident's description, residency training and trainees choice, orientation immediately after residency, professional orientation in 5-10 years) was sent by the French Federative Association of Psychiatrists Trainees (AFFEP) to all French psychiatrist trainees, through their local trainee associations (n=26) and through an on line questionnaire. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 853 of the 1615 psychiatry residents (53%), of which 71% were women. At the end of the residency, 76% of residents reported that they would like to pursue a post-residency position (chief resident, senior physician assistant university hospitals); 22% reported wanting to work in another city. Between 5 to 10 years after completion of the residency, 71% reported wanting to work in a hospital, and 40% preferred to have their own private practice. Almost a third of the trainees wished to work in the child and adolescent psychiatry field, for some of them in an exclusive way, for others, combined with a practice in adult psychiatry.

[Survey among academic teachers about psychiatric training in France]. / Enquête auprès des PU-PH sur la formation en psychiatrie en France.

INTRODUCTION: Given the results of resident psychiatrists' surveys conducted in France over the past 3 years, it has become essential to also examine the opinion of the academic psychiatrists in charge of psychiatry education. GOALS: To study the teachers point of view on psychiatric training in France, the weaknesses and strengths of the training, recent improvements and problems, and to compare their opinion with that of the residents. METHODOLOGY: A survey was conducted in April 2012 among 125 academic teachers professors hospital practitioners (PU-PH), in child & adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry. An anonymous online questionnaire including seven parts and three open questions was sent to the PU-PH. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 79/125 psychiatric PU-PH (63%). Results show that a majority of PU-PH (78%) were willing to maintain a single training pathway including adult psychiatry and child psychiatry with a single diploma, with the addition of a DESC (specific and additional Diploma) in forensic psychiatry (72%) and old age psychiatry (62%). Almost all respondents suggested the implementation of an assessment of teaching and a formal mentorship program. Some aspects of training included more controversial issues: such as the length of the training, the opening of training to private practice physicians, or the European harmonization. CONCLUSION: The survey stressed some areas of improvement: such training in psychotherapy and research, access to supervision as well as barriers to improved training including an insufficient number of academic practitioners. Compared with other surveys, it emphasized that in addition to the need of diversifying the theoretical (thematic, interactive media and teaching, teachers, etc.) and the practical aspect (training sites), it is essential according to trainees and PU-PH, to implement an efficient supervision during residency.

[Initial training in psychotherapy for psychiatrists in France: results of a national survey]. / La formation aux psychothérapies des internes de psychiatrie en France : résultats d'une enquête nationale.

INTRODUCTION: According to a recent change in the French legislation (2010) regarding the regulation of the use of the title of "psychotherapist", psychiatrists are now allowed to use this title at the end of their training, without any additional training. However, various publications from 2000 have shown that there is no specific training in psychotherapy at a professional level during the training of psychiatrists. GOALS: To study the current situation of the Academic training of French psychiatrists in psychotherapy during their residency, their interest for these therapies, their level of satisfaction regarding their training, and the importance of additional private training programs. METHODOLOGY: A survey was carried out among residents in psychiatry from October 2010 until January 2011. An anonymous questionnaire covering five domains (academic teaching, psychoanalysis, extra-academic training, interest in a more developed model of training, supervision) was sent by the French Federative Association of Psychiatrists Trainees (AFFEP) to all French psychiatrist trainees, through their local trainee associations (n=26). RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 869 of the 1334 psychiatry residents (65%). The vast majority of the trainees reported being interested in psychotherapy, but 75% thought that their training in psychotherapy (psychoanalysis, cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT] and systemic therapy) is insufficient. In 20 of the 26 universities, more than half of the trainees reported that their training was insufficient in the three fields; in four universities, more than half of the trainees were satisfied with at least one field. Yet, satisfaction rates were very different among universities: for example, 27% were satisfied with their psychoanalytic training in Paris and 87% in Strasbourg; 7% were satisfied with their CBT training in Strasbourg, but 65% in Nice. The vast majority (97%) believes that supervision about therapeutic relationship is necessary during residency rotations in the hospital. More than three quarters (78%) would like to have supervision at least twice a month. Yet, only 51% of respondents have such supervision. Once again, large disparities were observed between different Academies: for example 74% had supervision in Montpellier, but only 29% in Marseille. The vast majority (95%) of trainees would like a two-phase model of training (general theoretical teaching plus in-depth training in one or more methods), which is different to the current training model. CONCLUSION: Our results show a clear discrepancy between the importance of training in psychotherapy for psychiatrists, the interest of psychiatry students for these therapies, and the very high rate of dissatisfaction for the training received, as well as the rate of students supervised during their training period at the hospital. These results differ from what is observed in other countries, where satisfaction rates are much higher among students, and various psychotherapy training methods are proposed in a much more homogeneous manner. More research is required to understand the reasons for these difficulties with the psychotherapy training of psychiatrists in France, and to propose new models of training to improve this situation.