The number of psychiatric researchers does not seem to be keeping pace with the
needs and opportunities that exist in brain and behavioral medicine. An Institute of
Medicine committee conducted a broad review of the state of patient-oriented
research training in the context of the psychiatry residency and considered the
obstacles to such training and strategies for overcoming those obstacles. Careful
consideration was given to the demands of clinical training. The committee concluded
that barriers to research training span three categories: regulatory, institutional,
and personal factors. Recommendations to address these issues are presented in the
committee's report, including calling for research literacy requirements and research
training curricula tailored to psychiatry residency programs of various sizes. The roles
of senior investigators and departmental leadership are emphasized in the report, as
is the importance of longitudinal training (e.g., from medical school through residency
and fellowship). As there appears to be great interest among numerous stakeholders
and a need for better tracking data, an overarching recommendation calls
for the establishment of a national body to coordinate and evaluate the progress of
research training in psychiatry.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
2 Residency as Part of a Longitudinal Career Continuum
3 Regulatory Factors
4 Institutional Factors
5 Personal Factors
6 Future Directions for Promoting the Development of Psychiatrist-Researchers
References
Appendix A: Data Sources and Methods
Appendix B: Federal and Other Funding Mechanisms Listed and Summarized by Career Stage
Appendix C: Brief Descriptions of Psychiatry Residency Training Programs, Sorted by NIH 2002 Funding Rank for Each Corresponding Department
Appendix D: Committee and Staff Biographies