This study is a comparative investigation of the attitudes toward psyc
hiatry of two medical student groups who did their undergraduate train
ing in psychiatry in 1985 and 1993. Attitude assessments were carried
out by using the Libertarian Mental Health Ideology Scale (LMHIS). The
students completed the questionnaire twice, af the beginning and at t
he end of their clerkship. The LMHIS was also completed by the teachin
g staff. Both medical student groups showed a significant change in th
eir attitudes toward psychiatry after the end of the training. The cha
nge consisted of a shift to a more medical orientation. However, the 1
993 group manifested a significantly higher medical orientation both b
efore and after their undergraduate training in psychiatry compared wi
th the 1985 group. Furthermore, the former group's opinions at the end
of their education were similar to those of their teaching staff, whe
reas the 1985 students continued to have a lower medical orientation c
ompared with the teaching staff. These findings indicate that II psych
iatric education during medical school may significantly mold students
' attitudes toward psychiatry anti 2) if these medical student groups
represent the larger Greek society, then significant changes may be oc
curring in the creek society about attitudes toward psychiatry.