Are we training too many psychiatrists?

Abstract

In contrast to the past decade's concerns about an undersupply of psychiatric manpower, the authors point out that the profession may soon be facing the prospect of an oversupply of psychiatrists. Given the present rate of producing psychiatrists, shifts in demands for psychiatric services, changing payment and access patterns regarding specialty medical care, increasing numbers of nonpsychiatrist mental health professionals, and a probable surfeit of primary care physicians, underemployment of psychiatrists may become commonplace. Future psychiatrists will likely be used more as consultants, and the profession will need fewer, but better trained, graduates. The authors present alternative proposals to deal with service needs related to such reductions.