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

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.