Psychiatrically impaired medical practitioners: an overview with special reference to impaired psychiatrists

Objective: This paper will define and describe impairment in medical practitioners due to mental illness, with special reference to the specialty of psychiatry, and then review the prevalence and identification of impaired practitioners. Methods: The quantitative and qualitative evidence regarding the incidence and impact of medical practitioner impairment due to mental illness (and, to some extent, substance use), with special reference to impaired psychiatrists, is reviewed. Results: Medical practitioner impairment due to mental illness has a severe impact on their lives and their families due to both the effects of the disorder and the experience of communal, professional and self stigma. Conclusions: The consequences of impairment among medical practitioners and specialist psychiatrists as well as the under-reporting of impaired practitioners is a significant problem.