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Promoting voluntary help-seeking among doctors with mental disorders

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

Abstract

Objectives

To explore if the Barcelona Integral Care Program for Doctors with mental disorders (PAIMM, in Catalan) has achieved its goal of enhancing earlier and voluntary help-seeking amongst sick doctors.

Material and Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 1363 medical records of physicians admitted to the inpatient and outpatient units of the PAIMM from February 1st, 1998 until December 31st, 2011. The sample was divided into 3 time periods: 1998–2004, 2005–2007 and 2008–2011 (477, 497, and 389 cases, respectively).

Results

The mean age at admission decreased (F = 77.57, p < 0.001) from the first period (\(\bar x = 54.18\); SD = 10.28 years) to the last period (\(\bar x = 44.81\); SD = 10.65 years), while voluntary referrals increased from 81.3% to 91.5% (Chi2 = 17.85, p < 0.001). Mental disorders other than substance use disorders grew from 71% during the 1998–2003 period, to 87.4% (2004–2007), and 83.9% in the last period (Chi2 = 29.01, p < 0.001). Adjustment disorders increased their prevalence, while inpatient treatment progressively represented less of the overall clinical activity.

Conclusions

Sick doctors may feel encouraged to seek help in non-punitive programs specially designed for them and where treatment becomes mandatory only when there is risk or evidence of malpractice.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Galatea Clinic, Galatea Foundation, Barcelona Medical Council-Association, Integral Care Program for Sick Doctors, Barcelona, Spain

    María Dolores Braquehais, Sergi Valero, Miquel Jordi Bel, Antoni Arteman, Jaume Padrós, Eugeni Bruguera & Miquel Casas

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, CIBERSAM, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    María Dolores Braquehais, Sergi Valero, Josep Lluís Matalí, Miquel Jordi Bel, José Eduardo Montejo, Viviana Nasillo, Eugeni Bruguera & Miquel Casas

  3. Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, Galatea Clinic, Integral Care Program for Sick Doctors, Galatea Foundation, Barcelona Medical Council-Association, Passeig Bonanova, 47, 08017, Barcelona, Spain

    María Dolores Braquehais

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  1. María Dolores Braquehais
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  2. Sergi Valero
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Correspondence to María Dolores Braquehais.

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Braquehais, M.D., Valero, S., Matalí, J.L. et al. Promoting voluntary help-seeking among doctors with mental disorders. IJOMEH 27, 435–443 (2014). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-014-0271-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-014-0271-y

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