A sea change for sick doctors - how do doctors fare after presenting to a specialist psychotherapy service?

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.

Aims: To examine the health and work trajectory of MedNet clients between 2002 and 2007 followed up in 2010.

Method: 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.