DSM-IV self-report and subjective evaluation by psychiatrists in Israel

Psychiatric disorder, with the range of both subsyndromal and syndromal manifestation, is an important, yet often unrecognized and unacknowledged, problem among physicians. It is a subject that remains understudied, particularly among psychiatrists. The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective perception of mental illness among members of the psychiatric profession.

Psychiatrists attending an educational symposium completed, anonymously, a self-evaluation questionnaire in which they were asked to self-diagnose the presence of DSM-IV disorders.

110 responses were received (response rate: 52.1%); 90% of respondents indicated the presence of at least one syndrome or trait. The most common disorders on axis I and axis II were "mood disorder" and "narcissistic traits" respectively, with the least common being "psychotic disorder" and "schizotypal traits." Female psychiatrists reported more impairment, particularly among axis I disorders. The reported number of axis I and II conditions decreased with subjects' age.

Manifestations of psychiatric conditions including the range of subthreshold phenomena, as self-diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria, appear to be prominently reported, albeit with low severity, in a subjective manner by psychiatrists. Our findings may be of importance in encouraging the implementation of special programs in training and ongoing occupational support.