Advancing Women's Mental Health Education in Psychiatry Residency Training Programs: Insights from a Trainee Needs Assessment.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
This study assessed resident psychiatrist clinical confidence regarding women's mental health (WMH) topics and interest in receiving WMH education. The authors analyzed cross-sectional survey data from 152 Postgraduate year (PGY) 1-4 Residents in U.S. Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Programs between 12/3/2024-5/29/2025. Relative within-individual confidence in perinatal-focused WMH practice compared to general practice was assessed using paired Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Predictors of the relative confidence gap between perinatal and general practice were evaluated using multiple regression analyses. Resident interest in WMH education and preferred educational interventions was summarized using descriptive statistics. Residents were significantly less confident prescribing to pregnant and lactating individuals and counseling patients about risks and benefits of treatment in pregnancy and lactation compared to general practice (all p < 0.001). More self-reported WMH didactic hours attenuated the confidence gap for perinatal prescribing and counseling during pregnancy and lactation. The majority (62.5%) were not confident they would receive adequate WMH exposure by the end of residency, including 58.8% of PGY-4 residents. All (100%) expressed support for formal requirements for WMH education during residency. Residents were most interested in additional interactive WMH didactics (78.3%), followed by additional clinical electives (75.7%) or a national or program-specific women's mental health track (65.8%). Many residents are not getting the WMH training they need to serve women across the lifespan. When they do get it, it increases their self-efficacy to provide WMH care. Residents need and are recommending more WMH training so they can provide adequate mental health care to women across the lifespan.
