The senior psychiatrist survey I: age and psychiatric practice

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effects of age on the practice, roles, status and attitudes of psychiatrists within the Royal Aus tralian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). Method: A postal survey of Fellows of the RANZCP resident in Australia or N ew Zealand was conducted. The main outcome measures were: age; location and type of psychiatric practice; hours of work; attitudes towards re-accredit ation; changes in work practices over the career; and the perceived benefit s and drawbacks of age to psychiatric practice and case selection. Results: Of 1086 eligible subjects, 629 participated. The mean age of the s ample was 52.7 years (SD = 13,5). Those psychiatrists favouring re-accredit ation were younger. Psychiatrists practising psychotherapy, forensic psychi atry or general psychiatry; working in psychiatric hospitals and private pr actice were more likely to be older. Older psychiatrists worked shorter hou rs. There was largely no association between case selection and age. Psychi atrists reporting increased credibility and respect as a benefit of their c urrent age upon their psychiatric practice were older, as were those identi fying fatigue and an inability to keep up to date as a drawback of age, Psy chiatrists reporting a lack of credibility and respect were younger, as wer e those who reported increased enthusiasm and optimism. Conclusions: Age is associated with benefits and drawbacks to the practice of psychiatry and this may be reflected in the different practice profiles of older and younger psychiatrists.