Open AccessDepression in doctors: A bitter pill to swallow
Author(s) -
Kim Outhoff
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
south african family practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-6204
pISSN - 2078-6190
DOI - 10.4102/safp.v61i1.5046
Subject(s) - medicine , pill , depression (economics) , intervention (counseling) , psychiatry , alternative medicine , mental health , general practice , nursing , family medicine , macroeconomics , pathology , economics
At some point in their career, at least a third of doctors suffer personal health problems such as injury, aging, or physical and mental illness, which detract from their ability to function properly and to practice medicine safely. In most, impairment is amenable to intervention, treatment, recovery or resolution. However, some conditions, notably depression, may be overrepresented in the medical profession, under-recognized, stigmatised and undertreated, which may have fatal consequences.