Training and Individual Correlates of Attitudes Toward Serious Mental Illness Among Clinical Psychology Doctoral Students

Abstract

Clinical psychologists are underrepresented in treatment provision for persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Training-based and individual-level (including stigma among psychologists) factors may contribute to the establishment and perpetuation of this underrepresentation. Very little research has examined how these factors may impact doctoral students’ attitudes toward people with SMI. This study aimed to assess the current state of SMI training in clinical psychology and explore factors associated with mental health stigma among clinical doctoral students. Data were collected in two stages: (a) a national sample of directors of clinical trainings (n = 87) provided program-level data on SMI training and (b) students from select programs (n = 329) completed a survey on attitudes and associated factors. Analyses examined the relationship among four dimensions of student attitudes with individual, experiential, and training level factors. Overall, clinical training in SMI has shown little to no expansion over the last decade. Recovery knowledge, burnout, and disidentification emerged as the strongest and most consistent correlates of attitudes. Other associated factors included training in acute settings and the presence of SMI-focused faculty. Future research should examine the specific nature of SMI training and the role this may play in forming attitudes. Further, research must aim to establish specific recommendations for training reform and adapt clinician-based stigma interventions to student populations.