Clinical and demographic profile of anesthesiologists using alcohol and other drugs under treatment in a pioneering program in Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
Anesthesiologists are the majority in impaired-physician programs that assist physicians who abuse psychoactive substances. The aim of this paper is to show a descriptive study about the clinical and sociodemographic profile of a sample of chemically dependent anesthesiologists treated in a reference program. In addition, the objective is to cite the psychiatric comorbities, the most frequently used drugs and the psychosocial and professional repercussions of substance abuse.


METHODS
A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted, and a socio-occupational questionnaire and a structured interview were carried out to diagnose mental and psychoactive substance use disorders, according to the International Classification of Diseases (the ICD-10). The questionnaire and the structured interview were carried out by two skilled researchers.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven anesthesiologists were interviewed. Most of them were male (77.2%), and the mean age was 36.1 years (SD=8.5%). A high prevalence of abuse of opioid (59.6%), benzodiazepine (3.1%) and alcohol (35.1%) was observed. Opioid users sought treatment earlier than other substance users and usually they were under pressure from their colleagues and the Regional Council of Medicine. The incidence of drug abuse for self-medication was high in this subgroup.


CONCLUSIONS
Anesthesiologists may present a different profile concerning the risks of opioid use. Opioid abuse usually begins during medical residency or during the first years of clinical practice, which supports the hypothesis that addiction to opioids is an occupational issue among anesthesiologists.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. hamerpalhares@yahoo.com
Hamer Nastasy
HN
Palhares-Alves
Denise Leite
DL
Vieira
Ronaldo Ramos
RR
Laranjeira
Joaquim Edson
JE
Vieira
Luiz Antônio
LA
Nogueira-Martins
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D000776:Anesthesiology; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy