DO all US Psychiatrists undergo analysis?

Not psychoanalysis per se, but I'd say ~75% of my colleagues have undergone psychotherapy, though this is probably geographically influenced, with the rates in Boston/NYC being much higher than anywhere else in the country.

In my area, this is not happening. However I don't think its a bad idea. I can think of a lot of issues my fellow residents (and myself) have and it'd be nice if someone pointed them out to us.

whopper said:

I can think of a lot of issues my fellow residents (and myself) have and it'd be nice if someone pointed them out to us.

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Physicians in general have a lot of psychological issues (which they do not want to admit to!). Whether this is due primarily to the fact that medicine attracts specific personality types, or whether the medical training per se has an adverse effect on the personality of the physician is not clear, but IMHO both of these factors play some role.

Could not resist posting my favourite poem by an Oxford poet Philip Larkin: he is lamenting the fact that most parents, no matter how well-meaning they are, end up messing up their kids in one way or the other (vaguely related to this thread 🙂). I hope, the language of the poem does not offend people on this forum:

"They **** you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were ****ed up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soapy-stern
And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself."

Philip Larkin.

Several decades ago, most psychiatrists in training went through therapy (particularly psychoanalysis). It was considered an essential part of training. This practice has gradually waned, correlating with changes in psychiatry (from analytic to biological). It is certainly not a requirement for training at this time in most programs. Many psychiatry residents do not get any therapy at all. Some programs may overtly (or quietly) encourage it. Some programs are much more psychoanalytic or psychodynamically oriented, while others are more behaviorally, biologically or cognitively based. Some programs offer T groups or Balint groups that allow residents to discuss issues in a group setting, and enable them to get a sense of group process and psychodynamics (and develop some insight into their own psychology). I would suggest asking the program director and the residents about their attitudes towards this, and ask how many are in therapy (and what kind). It may give you a good sense about how the program views this.

Great Poem!

-t

On a deeper note, anyone here have any personal issues affect your performance?

I had a few, & I don't think an psychoanalyst would've been able to detect them because they were too situation specific.

Had an ex girlfriend that was molested as a kid and she was one of the nicest people I ever knew. I felt like I let her down when our relationship ended. I had a patient that looked almost exactly like my ex, and was very much like her personality wise. It had a very strong countertransferance effect. I kept double checking myself to make sure I didn't do anything different had the countertransference not had happened.

A friend of mine was raped in college by a mutual friend. She told me what happened and I didn't believe her (she was a little borderline, and guy that was accused has always had a level head). Turned out he really did rape her. Last year, a coworker accused another coworker. This time it turned out the accusation was compeltely false. However I think because of what happened in the past I let that affect my judgement too much to the false accuser's favor.

whopper said:

On a deeper note, anyone here have any personal issues affect your performance?

I had a few, & I don't think an psychoanalyst would've been able to detect them because they were too situation specific.

Had an ex girlfriend that was molested as a kid and she was one of the nicest people I ever knew. I felt like I let her down when our relationship ended. I had a patient that looked almost exactly like my ex, and was very much like her personality wise. It had a very strong countertransferance effect. I kept double checking myself to make sure I didn't do anything different had the countertransference not had happened.

A friend of mine was raped in college by a mutual friend. She told me what happened and I didn't believe her (she was a little borderline, and guy that was accused has always had a level head). Turned out he really did rape her. Last year, a coworker accused another coworker. This time it turned out the accusation was compeltely false. However I think because of what happened in the past I let that affect my judgement too much to the false accuser's favor.

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Like most things in life, therapy is what you make of it... Had you raised these issues with a decent therapist (it's really not up to them to "detect" them), they would've likely been able to help you work through them.