Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Articles by Myers, M. F. PubMed Citation Articles by Myers, M. F. Other Ethics Issues

Physician Impairment: Is It Relevant To Academic Psychiatry?

Received February 5, 2006; revised May 7, 2006; accepted May 15, 2006. Dr. Myers is the founder and co-chair of the Section on Physician Health of the Canadian Psychiatric Association and serves on the advisory board of the Center of Physician Health of the Canadian Medical Association. Dr. Myers is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia. Address correspondence to Michael F. Myers, M.D., St. Paul's Hospital, Dept Of Psychiatry, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC; myers{at}telus.net (e-mail).

OBJECTIVE: This article examines the relevance of physician impairment to the discipline of academic psychiatry. METHOD: The author reviews the scientific literature, the proceedings of previous International Conferences on Physician Health, and held discussions with experts in the physician health movement, department chairs, program directors, and residents. RESULTS: Psychiatric illness and impairment in physicians impact academic psychiatry in several ways. Mental illnesses in physicians are being studied by some researchers, but the subject requires more scholarly attention. Training directors are interested in resident well-being and illness and how to reach out to symptomatic residents in a more timely way. Leaders in psychiatry are eager to learn the first steps in identifying colleagues at risk and the route to assessment and care. They are especially concerned about disruptive behavior in the workplace, including harassment and boundary transgressions in doctor-patient and supervisor-supervisee relationships. Academic psychiatrists wish to be more responsive to nonpsychiatrists appealing to them for guidance with impaired members of their departments. CONCLUSIONS: Physician impairment is an emerging field of study and interest to psychiatrists in academic settings.

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2008 Academic Psychiatry. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us