Abstract
The author estimated the proportion of Canadian psychiatry residents who had ever worked with impaired supervisors and explored the residents’ reactions. A 22-item questionnaire was distributed to all 600 Canadian psychiatry residents; a total of 229 completed surveys were returned. Seven percent of surveyed residents reported working with an impaired supervisor. Female and senior residents were more likely to report such an experience. The most common reactions to working with supervisors perceived to be impaired were alterations in their work patterns (e.g., taking on more responsibilities, working without supervision), anger, conflict, and loss. Forty percent of residents in this situation recounted symptoms of depression and anxiety. Supervisors who are perceived as impaired seem to have a large impact, both professionally and personally, on the residents they supervise. Training programs need to actively address impairment in psychiatrists affiliated with their institution in order to aid both their colleague and the residents that they supervise.
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The author acknowledges the 1996–97 COPE representatives for their help in distributing and collecting the survey. She also thanks her supervisors, Drs. Richard Montoro, Viviane Zicherman, and Pascale DesRosiers, without whom this project would not have been possible.
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Igartua, K.J. The Impact of Impaired Supervisors on Residents. Acad Psychiatry 24, 188–194 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.24.4.188
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.24.4.188