Residents training in the mental status examination.

One hundred and ninety-two Canadian psychiatry residents (43% of the total Canadian resident population) completed a questionnaire concerning their training in and use of the mental status examination (MSE). Residents perceive a number of deficiencies in their training for the mental status examination. They employ a wide variation in tests, and show a lack of sophistication in how to test for special dysfunctions. We discuss these data in the context of accumulated research on MSE. It should be possible to provide more systematic training in the MSE and we suggest modifications in resident training which might produce a more uniform and reliable MSE.