RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF FULL-TIME FACULTY IN ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS OF PSYCHIATRY

Using data collected by a 1989 American Psychiatric Association survey of full-time, salaried faculty in departments of psychiatry at US med ical schools, we examined the number of faculty engaged in research, t heir levels of involvement in research, distribution, sources of fundi ng, fields and topics studied, and training. Using a three-level measu re of research involvement, we categorized 39.1% of the respondents as ''researchers,'' 36% as ''limited commitment researchers,'' and 25.1% as not involved in research. In a pattern similar to that observed fo r research funding in other studies, half of the researchers were conc entrated in the top 15 of the 116 responding departments. Level of res earch involvement varied by degree type (joint-program MD/PhDs were mo st involved), sources of funding, fields, and topics. Among faculty wi th MDs, having had research experiences in medical school or postdocto ral research training was associated with a higher level of research i nvolvement. The findings underscore the need to expand and improve pos tdoctoral research training-especially for MDs-and programs to recruit college and medical students into psychiatric research.