The organic-dynamic continuum in psychiatry: trends in attitudes among third-year residents

Identical surveys, designed to assess attitudes toward training and treatment in psychiatry, were distributed to the half of all third-year residents in 1976, 1978, and 1980. The 1976 survey results revealed considerable support for the medically oriented aspects of training and for organic approaches to treating endogenous depression and schizophrenia. Residents rated the treatment modalities for alcoholism differently than they did for schizophrenia and depression. Results from the 1978 and 1980 surveys replicated the 1976 findings, suggesting remarkable stability in attitudes. Changes in attitude over the three survey years may require a greater time span to manifest.