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Addictions Training in General Psychiatry Training Programs: Current Gaps and Barriers

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Abstract

Objective

The primary purpose of this article is to review the findings of a 2017 survey of psychiatry training program directors to identify current gaps and barriers in addictions training in general adult psychiatry programs.

Methods

The American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT) Taskforce on Addictions was created in 2017 with the aim of determining what programs need to improve addictions training in psychiatry residency programs and identifying ways to meet these needs. A 23-item confidential, anonymous online survey was developed and disseminated to AADPRT members who were general psychiatry program directors using the AADPRT Listserv (n = 200).

Results

Eighty-five programs (42%) responded to the survey. Programs reported that addictions training often takes place in general psychiatry settings rather than specialty settings. Curriculum content and clinical experiences varied substantially between programs. The lack of addictions-trained faculty members was identified as an impediment to providing more comprehensive training.

Conclusion

While a lack of advanced training in addictions among faculty may be a limiting factor, developing expertise through faculty development activities and nationally disseminating model curricula can help improve national addictions training. Future goals include development of a strategic plan for improving addictions training, including an outline of a developmental approach across training to the acquisition of milestones-based competencies that apply to addictions assessment and treatment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the members of the AADPRT Addictions Taskforce for their contributions to this piece including Richard Camino-Gaztambide, Timothy Fong, Ray Hsiao, Scott Oakman, John Renner, Andrew Saxon, Jeremy Kidd, Ramzi Mardam Bey, and Kevin Gray. The authors would also like to thank the Advisory Board for their guidance in the survey.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Ann C. Schwartz & Justine W. Welsh

  2. Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Amber Frank & Sandra M. DeJong

  3. Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

    Kelly Blankenship

Authors
  1. Ann C. Schwartz
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  2. Amber Frank
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  3. Justine W. Welsh
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  4. Kelly Blankenship
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  5. Sandra M. DeJong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ann C. Schwartz.

Ethics declarations

IRB exemption was granted by Emory University.

Disclosures

Dr. Schwartz is the chair of the AADPRT Addictions Taskforce and is a member of the Academic Psychiatry Editorial Board. Manuscripts that are authored by a member of the Editorial Board undergo the same editorial review process applied to all manuscripts, including blinded peer review. Dr. DeJong was President of AADPRT 2017–18 and established the Addictions Taskforce which conducted the survey. Dr. Welsh has received consulting fees from GW Pharmaceuticals and training fees from Chestnut Health Systems. Dr. Welsh is a consultant to the Addictions Taskforce.

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Schwartz, A.C., Frank, A., Welsh, J.W. et al. Addictions Training in General Psychiatry Training Programs: Current Gaps and Barriers. Acad Psychiatry 42, 642–647 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-018-0950-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-018-0950-2

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