Doctors and dentists with mental ill health and addictions: Outcomes of treatment from the Practitioner Health Programme

TY - JOUR

T1 - Doctors and dentists with mental ill health and addictions: Outcomes of treatment from the Practitioner Health Programme

AU - Brooks, Samantha K

AU - Gerada, Clare

AU - Chalder, Trudie

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Background: The Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) was developed to provide expert assessment and support to practitioners (doctors and dentists) with mental and physical health problems affecting their ability to work. Aims: This paper examines the treatment outcomes of the practitioner-patients utilising PHP. Method: We assessed outcomes on consecutive patients using the PHP. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale were completed at initial assessment, 8- and 26-week follow-up. We also report the percentages of practitioner-patients off work at each interval, and examine global improvement and satisfaction scores for both follow-up intervals. Results: Two hundred practitioner-patients entered PHP due to a mental health or substance abuse problem and subsequently completed questionnaires at baseline; 102 patients returned questionnaires after 8 weeks and 95 returned questionnaires after 26 weeks. Results suggested that patients reported less distress and less impairment of functioning at 8 and 26 weeks. Scores for satisfaction and global improvement were consistently high. Conclusions: The PHP is providing a valuable service to practitioner-patients, significantly helping to decrease levels of distress and improve work and social functioning.

AB - Background: The Practitioner Health Programme (PHP) was developed to provide expert assessment and support to practitioners (doctors and dentists) with mental and physical health problems affecting their ability to work. Aims: This paper examines the treatment outcomes of the practitioner-patients utilising PHP. Method: We assessed outcomes on consecutive patients using the PHP. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale were completed at initial assessment, 8- and 26-week follow-up. We also report the percentages of practitioner-patients off work at each interval, and examine global improvement and satisfaction scores for both follow-up intervals. Results: Two hundred practitioner-patients entered PHP due to a mental health or substance abuse problem and subsequently completed questionnaires at baseline; 102 patients returned questionnaires after 8 weeks and 95 returned questionnaires after 26 weeks. Results suggested that patients reported less distress and less impairment of functioning at 8 and 26 weeks. Scores for satisfaction and global improvement were consistently high. Conclusions: The PHP is providing a valuable service to practitioner-patients, significantly helping to decrease levels of distress and improve work and social functioning.

U2 - 10.3109/09638237.2012.734647

DO - 10.3109/09638237.2012.734647

M3 - Article

C2 - 23323773

SN - 0963-8237

JO - Journal of Mental Health

JF - Journal of Mental Health

ER -