This paper reports some aspects of a survey made of the training experiences of a group of recently appointed consultants in general psychiatry; it is the third such survey made by the author. The original enquiry was a postal one and asked about the training and education received by all consultants who had been appointed for the first time to a post in general psychiatry, with at least 6 N.H.S. sessions, between 1 October 1963 and 30 September 1969 (R.M.P.A., 1969). A second survey, using a questionnaire much modified from the first, was made of consultants appointed between 1 October 1966 and 30 September 1969, using the same criteria of eligibility as the first group (Brook, 1972, 1973). The present enquiry used a postal questionnaire almost identical to that used for the previous group, which was circulated to consultants in general psychiatry appointed between 1 October 1969 and 30 September 1972.