PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND THE MEDICAL-STUDENT SYNDROME IN ABNORMAL-PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS

We investigated psychological distress and the ''medical student syndr ome'' in a group of undergraduate Abnormal Psychology students. Studen ts planning to major in psychology reported more worry about their psy chological health than those planning to major in some other field. Al so, students who reported a history of psychological treatment were mo re likely to intend to pursue an advanced degree in counseling or psyc hotherapy, Although the process of learning about various psychologica l disorders decreased students' anxiety about their own mental health, it increased their anxiety about the mental health of family members, After completing course work in abnormal psychology, students were mo re willing to seek help from campus mental health services for persona l psychological distress.