Psychiatrically impaired medical practitioners: an overview with special reference to impaired psychiatrists.
OBJECTIVE
This paper will define and describe impairment in medical practitioners due to mental illness, with special reference to the specialty of psychiatry, and then review the prevalence and identification of impaired practitioners.


METHODS
The quantitative and qualitative evidence regarding the incidence and impact of medical practitioner impairment due to mental illness (and, to some extent, substance use), with special reference to impaired psychiatrists, is reviewed.


RESULTS
Medical practitioner impairment due to mental illness has a severe impact on their lives and their families due to both the effects of the disorder and the experience of communal, professional and self stigma.


CONCLUSIONS
The consequences of impairment among medical practitioners and specialist psychiatrists as well as the under-reporting of impaired practitioners is a significant problem.
Wilson
Andrew
A
St. Vincent's Mental Health Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Rosen
Alan
A
Randal
Patte
P
Pethebridge
Andrew
A
Codyre
David
D
Barton
David
D
Norrie
Peter
P
McGeorge
Peter
P
Rose
Lynette
L
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010815:Physician Impairment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013240:Stereotyping; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation