Marriage and medicine: the physician as partner, parent, and person

Physicians are beginning to see the need to heal themselves, and to change the statistics on their morbidity, mortality, and marital distress. Stress for physicians comes from five sources: the nature of the work, their training, their public image, their families, and themselves. Medical school stress as an 'initiation rite' is discussed. Three theoretical frameworks are described which will enable family physicians to take a closer look at their own marriages and families as well as those of patients. A systems orientation will help avoid blame of self or partner or parents; object relations theory clarifies the human tendency to repeat history; a theory connecting self-esteem and communication styles will allow physicians to be more open at work and with their families. The importance of developing priorities and meaningful interests outside medicine is also discussed.