A sea change for sick doctors - how do doctors fare after presenting to a specialist psychotherapy service?

Little is known about doctors who present to services following an episode of psychological distress. MedNet is a psycho-dynamically informed confidential self-referral service for doctors. To examine the health and work trajectory of MedNet clients between 2002 and 2007 followed up in 2010. We repo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of mental health (Abingdon, England) Vol. 25; no. 3; p. 238
Main Authors:	Davies, Sally R, Meerton, Maja, Rost, Felicitas, Garelick, Antony I
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England 01-06-2016
Subjects:	Adult Female Humans Male Mental Health Middle Aged Physicians - psychology Psychotherapy Sick Leave - statistics & numerical data Stress, Psychological - psychology Stress, Psychological - therapy Young Adult Doctors’ health psychotherapy occupational health resilience mental health
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Summary:	Little is known about doctors who present to services following an episode of psychological distress. MedNet is a psycho-dynamically informed confidential self-referral service for doctors. To examine the health and work trajectory of MedNet clients between 2002 and 2007 followed up in 2010. We report and compare service-monitoring data for 124 doctors on engagement with health services, whether in work or not, sick leave utilised, and reported distress measured by CORE-OM at intake and at one follow-up time point. 95.6% of doctors continue to work and progress in their careers. 58.3% remained engaged with services. Sick leave had reduced significantly at follow-up. Distress was significantly reduced, but no differences were found with respect to social functioning and well-being. An interesting shift was observed in doctors' use of medication from treating somatic complaints towards treating mood symptoms. Doctors show improvements and continue to progress in their careers after a psychotherapeutically orientated intervention. A shift in doctors' perception of their difficulties is indicated from more somatic to psychological concerns. Many doctor-patients continue with ongoing professional support.
ISSN:	1360-0567
DOI:	10.3109/09638237.2015.1124386