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Study shows success in treating impaired physicians

Medical Staff Leader Connection, February 14, 2007

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Physicians with mental and behavioral health problems have a successful rehabilitation rate similar to that found for substance abuse disorders, 74 to 75%, and physicians with these disorders can safely be monitored while continuing to practice medicine, according to a study by five members of the Physician Health Services Research Committee, a program of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

 

Researchers followed and examined data on physicians in Massachusetts with both substance abuse and mental and behavioral disorders over a 10-year period, with rigorous monitoring, including,

  • regular psychotherapy
  • attendance at support group meetings
  • monthly meetings with a program associate director
  • regular reports from professional colleagues

 

Physicians with substance abuse problems also had weekly random laboratory tests for alcohol and drugs.

 

"The most significant result of this research is that it demonstrates that we can achieve a high rate of success in maintaining physicians with mental and behavioral issues in the practice of medicine, or helping them return, with similar strategies that are well-proven for substance abuse problems," said lead author John R. Knight, M.D., chair of the Physician Health Services Research Committee, in a press release from the Massachusetts Medical Society.

 

Other key findings of the study include:

  • Women in the study tended to relapse sooner than men
  • Anesthesiologists and emergency medicine specialists were at greater risk of substance abuse disorders
  • Psychiatrists were over-represented in the mental health and behavioral problems group
  • Physicians who had involvement with the state licensing board appeared to have a higher success rate than those who did not

The study appears in the January 2007 edition of the Journal of Psychiatric Practice. (http://www.practicalpsychiatry.com.)

 



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