The Impending Psychiatrist Shortage: Projected Deficiencies in the U.S. Adult Psychiatry Workforce.
The aim of this study was to analyze the supply, demand, and adequacy of psychiatrists serving adults (PSAs) in the United States.
The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of full-time equivalent (FTE) PSAs, using the Health Workforce Simulation Model. Supply was defined as the number of FTE physicians, demand as the number of FTE physicians needed under status quo and improved access scenarios, and adequacy as supply over demand.
From 2024 to 2037, the national supply of PSAs was projected to decrease by 12.3% (p<0.001), whereas demand was projected to increase by 43.7% (p<0.001). As a result, PSA workforce adequacy was projected to decrease under status quo (from 70.2% to 42.8%, p<0.001) and improved access (from 49.3% to 29.3%, p<0.001) scenarios.
Critical PSA workforce shortages were identified, including states affected the most severely. Efforts in education and government are needed to improve PSA workforce adequacy.
The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of full-time equivalent (FTE) PSAs, using the Health Workforce Simulation Model. Supply was defined as the number of FTE physicians, demand as the number of FTE physicians needed under status quo and improved access scenarios, and adequacy as supply over demand.
From 2024 to 2037, the national supply of PSAs was projected to decrease by 12.3% (p<0.001), whereas demand was projected to increase by 43.7% (p<0.001). As a result, PSA workforce adequacy was projected to decrease under status quo (from 70.2% to 42.8%, p<0.001) and improved access (from 49.3% to 29.3%, p<0.001) scenarios.
Critical PSA workforce shortages were identified, including states affected the most severely. Efforts in education and government are needed to improve PSA workforce adequacy.