Psychiatrists admitted to a physicians' health programme

Area of Science:

• Medical Professional Health
• Psychiatry
• Physician Well-being

Background:

• Psychiatrists experience high rates of mental illness during their careers.
• Understanding the health-seeking behaviors of psychiatrists is crucial for their well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the characteristics of psychiatrists in a health program with other physicians.
• To identify differences in referral patterns and treatment for psychiatrists.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 1,218 medical records from the Barcelona Physicians' Health Programme (1998-2013).
• Analysis of demographic data, diagnoses, and treatment details for psychiatrists versus other physicians.

Main Results:

• Psychiatrists (n=72) were older and more likely to have inpatient treatment and referred admissions than other physicians.
• No significant differences were found in gender, primary diagnosis, or treatment episode length.
• Referral type was the only significant factor influencing outcomes when considering all variables.

Conclusions:

• Psychiatrists may be less likely to voluntarily seek help from a Physicians' Health Programme.
• Encouraging psychiatrists to access support for mental distress and addiction is essential.
• Targeted interventions may be needed to support psychiatrists' mental health.