The Role of Religion in Psychiatric Education: A National Survey

Abstract

Approximately 80% of the members of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training responded to a survey on the role of religion in psychiatric education. Survey results suggest that religious ideation by resident candidates is a relatively unimportant variable in the programs’ selection; didactic instruction on any aspect of religion is infrequent; clinical supervision on religious dynamics is variable but more likely to occur than didactic instruction; and academic progression is rarely impeded by behaviors emanating from residents’ religious values. Several implications of these findings are discussed.