title: A sea change for sick doctors - how do doctors fare after presenting to a specialist psychotherapy service?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about doctors who present to services following an episode of psychological distress. MedNet is a psycho-dynamically informed confidential self-referral service for doctors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the health and work trajectory of MedNet clients between 2002 and 2007 followed up in 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report and compare service-monitoring data for 124 doctors on engagement with health services, whether in work or not, sick leave utilised, and reported distress measured by CORE-OM at intake and at one follow-up time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  95.6% of doctors continue to work and progress in their careers. 58.3% remained engaged with services. Sick leave had reduced significantly at follow-up. Distress was significantly reduced, but no differences were found with respect to social functioning and well-being. An interesting shift was observed in doctors' use of medication from treating somatic complaints towards treating mood symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Doctors show improvements and continue to progress in their careers after a psychotherapeutically orientated intervention. A shift in doctors' perception of their difficulties is indicated from more somatic to psychological concerns. Many doctor-patients continue with ongoing professional support.
authors.affiliation: a Adult Department , MedNet, The Tavistock Clinic , London , UK.
authors.forename: Sally R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: a Adult Department , MedNet, The Tavistock Clinic , London , UK.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meerton
authors.affiliation: a Adult Department , MedNet, The Tavistock Clinic , London , UK.
authors.forename: Felicitas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rost
authors.affiliation: a Adult Department , MedNet, The Tavistock Clinic , London , UK.
authors.forename: Antony I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Garelick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Doctors’ health; mental health; occupational health; psychotherapy; resilience