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

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

• doctors’ health
• health of health professionals
• mental health
• treatment outcomes

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the patients who participated in the study, as well as doctors and staff at the PHP. Trudie Chalder acknowledges financial support from the Department of Health via the National Institute for Health Research Specialist Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health award to South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London. Thanks are also given to Martin Black, Operations Manager of PHP, for his help with data collection.

Declaration of Interest: C. Gerada directs the service and secured the funding for it. T. Chalder has treated some of the patients.

The authors also gratefully acknowledge the NHS for funding the research into the PHP and its evaluation.