Misconceptions about psychiatrists €œcommon€ among public and medical students

The general public and medical students often have misconceptions about the role and training of psychiatrists, and a significant minority would feel uncomfortable sitting next to one at a party, according to new research. Researchers from St George’s University of London asked 103 patients attending a semi-rural GP surgery in England to complete a questionnaire about the work of psychiatrists. A similar questionnaire was given to 94 medical students in their pre-clinical years. The researchers found that members of the public frequently underestimated the qualifications held by psychiatrists. For example, more than half (54%) of the public did not realise