Changes in vocational tendencies towards psychiatry among students during medical degree

Introduction: The aim of this study is to observe changes in the attitudes, opnions, and vocational tendencies towards psychiatry among students during medical studies. Material and methods: Sample included a total of 207 students; 117 in their first year at medical school of the Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB), and 90 in their fifth year. Data was collected by means of the selected Balon questionnaire adapted with two variants. Results: We have observed significant changes in some aspects regarding: efficacy and role of psychiatry among other medical specialities; some psychiatrists' functions and possible abuses; and finally, features about the professional career. Students still feel high social criticism if they choose psychiatry and diminish the psychiatrists' function within the mental health system. The decision to choose psychiatry does not seem to be influenced neither by the feeling of well-learned psychiatric training nor by cohabitation with psychiatric patients. Conclusions: Perception of psychiatry as a challenge could partially explain the high vocational tendencies among fifth-year medical students (14%) not observed in other countries.