THE STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP FOR MEDICAL-STUDENTS - REALIZING PSYCHIATRY POTENTIAL

Stress management workshops have been used in psychiatric training pro grams, both the medical student and resident levels. However, their us e has been sparingly described. A workshop of this nature was adapted for use with medical students at the University of Illinois and presen ted as an elective in 1994 and 1995. Seventeen percent of the students in each class of 180 chose this elective. Questionnaire results indic ated that the course was well received and that the students selecting the course were predominantly attracted to the ''nonprocedural'' spec ialties. Almost half the students indicated that the course had made t hem consider a career in psychiatry and that their attitude toward psy chiatry had become more positive. Every student taking the course stat ed that it should be repeated and was helpful in their own personal st ress management. The stress management workshop may be a useful and ne eded adjunct to medical school training.