Influence of Continuing Medical Education Workshops on Participant Learning

The challenge of assessing the effectiveness of continuing medical education (CME) programs is formidable and intriguing. Two workshops on program factors affecting resident recruitment, conducted at annual meetings of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, were evaluated for their influence on participant learning. Based on pre- and post-workshop questionnaires, participant perceptions and attitudes changed as a result of the workshop experience. The changes closely paralleled the planned and spontaneous discussion content. In describing the workshop-related changes, factors affecting residency program recruitment and aspects of CME program evaluation are discussed. A suggestion for enhancing workshop evaluations is incorporated

Relationships Between Legal and Clinical Factors Among Forensic Hospital Patients

Recognizing that established relationships enhance understanding and therefore improve clinical intuition and inference, the authors examined clinical and legal characteristics of a legally and clinically heterogeneous population of maximum security forensic hospital patients (n = 380). Several findings serve to substantiate outcomes of previous studies of subgroups of offenders. Some new relationships among legal and clinical variables are established. The relationship between admission legal status and Axis I diagnosis is dependent upon the Axis II diagnosis. Those admitted for competency evaluations have the lowest percentage of psychotic diagnoses and the highest IQ. Kidnapers have the highest percentage of psychotic diagnoses and there is a relationship between previous incarceration and drug treatment refusal. The authors discuss clinical implications, generalizability, and the needs for further investigation

Relationships Between Legal and Clinical Factors Among Forensic Hospital Patients

Recognizing that established relationships enhance understanding and therefore improve clinical intuition and inference, the authors examined clinical and legal characteristics of a legally and clinically heterogeneous population of maximum security forensic hospital patients (n = 380). Several findings serve to substantiate outcomes of previous studies of subgroups of offenders. Some new relationships among legal and clinical variables are established. The relationship between admission legal status and Axis I diagnosis is dependent upon the Axis II diagnosis. Those admitted for competency evaluations have the lowest percentage of psychotic diagnoses and the highest IQ. Kidnapers have the highest percentage of psychotic diagnoses and there is a relationship between previous incarceration and drug treatment refusal. The authors discuss clinical implications, generalizability, and the needs for further investigation

Predictors of Improvement in Maximum Security Forensic Hospital Patients

In a maximum security forensic hospital population (n = 376), relationships between three groups of patient factors (diagnostic data patient histories, and hospital course) and two indicators of treatment effectiveness (length of hospitalization [LOH] and restoration of competency to stand trial) were analyzed. Schizophrenia, previous hospitalizations, felony charges, drug treatment refusal, involuntary medication, physical restraint, and absence of personality disorders were associated with increased LOH. Nonschizophrenic patients without histories of previous incarceration, and, paradoxically, drug treatment refusers were relatively successful with competency restoration. Implications of these findings and questions for future research are discussed

Predictors of Improvement in Maximum Security Forensic Hospital Patients

In a maximum security forensic hospital population (n = 376), relationships between three groups of patient factors (diagnostic data patient histories, and hospital course) and two indicators of treatment effectiveness (length of hospitalization [LOH] and restoration of competency to stand trial) were analyzed. Schizophrenia, previous hospitalizations, felony charges, drug treatment refusal, involuntary medication, physical restraint, and absence of personality disorders were associated with increased LOH. Nonschizophrenic patients without histories of previous incarceration, and, paradoxically, drug treatment refusers were relatively successful with competency restoration. Implications of these findings and questions for future research are discussed

Influence of Continuing Medical Education Workshops on Participant Learning

The challenge of assessing the effectiveness of continuing medical education (CME) programs is formidable and intriguing. Two workshops on program factors affecting resident recruitment, conducted at annual meetings of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, were evaluated for their influence on participant learning. Based on pre- and post-workshop questionnaires, participant perceptions and attitudes changed as a result of the workshop experience. The changes closely paralleled the planned and spontaneous discussion content. In describing the workshop-related changes, factors affecting residency program recruitment and aspects of CME program evaluation are discussed. A suggestion for enhancing workshop evaluations is incorporated

Relationships Between Legal and Clinical Factors Among Forensic Hospital Patients

Recognizing that established relationships enhance understanding and therefore improve clinical intuition and inference, the authors examined clinical and legal characteristics of a legally and clinically heterogeneous population of maximum security forensic hospital patients (n = 380). Several findings serve to substantiate outcomes of previous studies of subgroups of offenders. Some new relationships among legal and clinical variables are established. The relationship between admission legal status and Axis I diagnosis is dependent upon the Axis II diagnosis. Those admitted for competency evaluations have the lowest percentage of psychotic diagnoses and the highest IQ. Kidnapers have the highest percentage of psychotic diagnoses and there is a relationship between previous incarceration and drug treatment refusal. The authors discuss clinical implications, generalizability, and the needs for further investigation

Gender Influence on Specialists Ratings of Residency Program Candidates

Sexism has been perceived at all levels of medical education. Although specialty training has been scrutinized from various perspectives, there have been few objective assessments of sexual discrimination in the selection of candidates. This study evaluates the responses of board-certified physicians to fictional residency applicants’ personal statements, which were identical except for gender. Male and female physicians from six specialties in which women were overrepresented and six specialties in which women were underrepresented all favored female candidates. Female physicians in both groups rated male candidates as less hardworking than did male physicians. Implications of these and other findings are discussed