Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Kim, W. J. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Kim, W. J. General Topics in Psychiatry Education, Psychiatrists

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Workforce: A Critical Shortage and National Challenge

Dr. Kim is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio. Members of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Task Force on Workforce Needs include: Donald Bechtold, M.D., Beth Ann Brooks, M.D., Norbert Enzer, M.D., Paramjit Joshi, M.D., Carolyn King, M.D., Carolyn Robinowitz, M.D., Dorothy Stubbe, M.D., Eva Szigethy, M.D., Ph.D., Peter Tanguay, M.D., Kayla Pope, J.D., M.A., Ms. Mary Crosby and Ms. Virginia Anthony. Address correspondence to Dr. Kim, MCO-Kobacker Center, 3130 Glendale Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614-5810.

Despite the decades-long projection of an increasing utilization of child and adolescent psychiatry services and an undersupply of child and adolescent psychiatrists, the actual growth and supply of child and adolescent psychiatrists have been very slow. Inadequate support in academic institutions, decreasing graduate medical education (GME) funding, decreasing clinical revenues in the managed care environment, and a devalued image of the profession have made academic child and adolescent psychiatry programs struggle for recruitment of both residents and faculty, although child and adolescent psychiatry has made impressive progress in its scientific knowledge base through research, especially in neuroscience and developmental science. While millions of young people suffer from severe mental illnesses, there are only about 6,300 child and adolescent psychiatrists practicing in the United States. There is also a severe maldistribution of child and adolescent psychiatrists, especially in rural and poor, urban areas where access is significantly reduced. By any method of workforce analysis, it is evident that there will continue to be a shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists well into the future. Medical/psychiatric educators have a mission to encourage medical students and general psychiatry residents to enter child and adolescent psychiatry and provide crucial mental health care and health care advocacy for our country's youngest and most vulnerable citizens. This article stems from the work of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Task Force on Work Force Needs, which led to its 10-year recruitment initiative.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. L. Toomey, J. Finkelstein, and K. Kuhlthau Does Connection to Primary Care Matter for Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Pediatrics, August 1, 2008; 122(2): 368 - 374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Iglehart Grassroots Activism and the Pursuit of an Expanded Physician Supply N. Engl. J. Med., April 17, 2008; 358(16): 1741 - 1749. [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. L. Martin, D. S. Bennett, and M. Pitale Medical Students' Interest in Child Psychiatry: A Clerkship Intervention Acad Psychiatry, June 1, 2007; 31(3): 225 - 227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Pao, E. D. Ballard, H. Raza, and D. L. Rosenstein Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine: An Annotated Bibliography Psychosomatics, June 1, 2007; 48(3): 195 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Manassis, M. Katz, J. Lofchy, and S. Wiesenthal Choosing a Career in Psychiatry: Influential Factors Within a Medical School Program Acad Psychiatry, August 1, 2006; 30(4): 325 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. A. Jewett, M. R. Anderson, and G. S. Gilchrist The Pediatric Subspecialty Workforce: Public Policy and Forces for Change Pediatrics, November 1, 2005; 116(5): 1192 - 1202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. L. Martin, D. S. Bennett, and M. Pitale Medical Students' Perceptions of Child Psychiatry: Pre- and Post-Psychiatry Clerkship Acad Psychiatry, October 1, 2005; 29(4): 362 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Petti Perceptions of Physician Shortages JAMA, April 14, 2004; 291(14): 1696 - 1696. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Cooper Where Is Psychiatry Going and Who Is Going There? Acad Psychiatry, December 1, 2003; 27(4): 229 - 234. [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2003 Academic Psychiatry. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us