Changes in attitudes towards psychiatry among medical students: correlation of attitude shift with academic performance

Abstract

This study investigates the changes in attitudes to psychiatry and level of psychiatric knowledge among medical students before and after formal teaching on psychiatry. Teaching led to the development of more favourable attitudes (particularly among women) towards psychiatry, but doubt remained after teaching about the 'scientific' status of the discipline. Initial attitudes did not relate to academic performance but, those developed after teaching showed a significant positive correlation with it.