title: Psychiatrically impaired medical practitioners: an overview with special reference to impaired psychiatrists.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Mental Health Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Patte
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Randal
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pethebridge
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Codyre
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norrie
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGeorge
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: 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