Perspectives

Addressing Mental Health Needs among Physicians

Authors: Katherine Buck, PhD, LMFT, Aaron Grace, PsyD, Tina Runyan, PhD, ABPP, Lauren Brown-Berchtold, MD

Abstract

Physician burnout is a national phenomenon with far-reaching implications for health systems, patients, patient care, and clinicians.1–5 Burnout is related to clinically significant depression6 and anxiety7; doctors have overall prevalence rates of depression that are similar to the general population,8 and in medical students and residents the rates are even higher.9,10

Full Article

Having trouble viewing the article content below? Click here to open it directly.

References

1. Dewa CS, Loong D, Bonato S, et al. How does burnout affect physician productivity? A systematic literature review. BMC Health Serv Res 2014;14:325.
2. Shanafelt TD, Mungo M, Schmitgen J, et al. Longitudinal study evaluating the association between physician burnout and changes in professional work effort. Mayo Clin Proc 2016;91:422-431.
3. Atkinson W, Misra-Hebert A, Stoller JK. The impact on revenue of physician turnover: an assessment model and experience in a large healthcare center. J Med Pract Manage 2006;21:351-355.
4. Lu DW, Dresden S, McCloskey C, et al. Impact of burnout on self-reported patient care among emergency physicians. West J Emerg Med 2015;16:996-1001.
5. Maslach C. Burnout: The Cost of Caring. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:Prentice-Hall;1982.
6. Wurm W, Vogel K, Holl A, et al. Depression-burnout overlap in physicians. PLoS One 2016;11:e0149913.
7. Zhou J, Yang Y, Qiu X, et al. Relationship between anxiety and burnout among Chinese physicians: a moderated mediation model. PLoS One 2016;11:e0157013.
8. Center C, Davis M, Detre T, et al. Confronting depression and suicide in physicians: a consensus statement. JAMA 2003;289:3161-3166.
9. Zoccolillo M, Murphy GE, Wetzel RD. Depression among medical students. J Affect Disord 1986;11:91-96.
10. Givens JL, Tjia J. Depressed medical students’ use of mental health services and barriers to use. Acad Med 2002;77:918-921.
11. Dyrbye LN, West CP, Sinsky CA, et al. Medical licensure questions and physician reluctance to seek care for mental health conditions. Mayo Clin Proc 2017;92:1486-1493.
12. Fahrenkopf AM, Sectish TC, Barger LK, et al. Rates of medication errors among depressed and burnt out residents: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2008;336:488-491.
13. Anagnostopoulos F, Liolios E, Persefonis G, et al. Physician burnout and patient satisfaction with consultation in primary health care settings: evidence of relationships from a one-with-many design. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2012;19:401-410.
14. Haas JS, Cook EF, Puopolo AL, et al. Is the professional satisfaction of general internists associated with patient satisfaction? J Gen Intern Med 2000;15:122-128.
15. Ratanawongsa N, Roter D, Beach MC, et al. Physician burnout and patient-physician communication during primary care encounters. J Gen Intern Med 2008;23:1581-1588.
16. Federation of State Physician Health Programs. 2005 physician health program guidelines. https://www.fsphp.org/resource/2005-fsphp-physician-health-program-guidelines. Accessed August 8, 2018.
17. Schroeder R, Brazeau CM, Zackin F, et al. Do state medical board applications violate the Americans with Disabilities Act? Acad Med 2009;84:776-781.
18. Gold KJ, Shih ER, Goldman EB, et al. Do US medical licensing applications treat mental and physical illnesses equivalently? Fam Med 2017;49:464-467.
19. American Medical Association. Proceedings of the 2018 annual meeting of the House of Delegates. 2018. https://www.ama-assn.org/about/proceedings-2018-annual-meeting-house-delegates. Accessed August 9, 2018.