Early Career Physician Mental Health and Wellness

Abstract

Young adulthood is a time of substantial transition, growth, risk, and opportunity. Transitioning out of adolescence involves developmental challenges including, but not limited to, establishment of independence, crystallization of personality, navigation of intimate relationships, and laying the groundwork for a career. This stage of life is also the time when psychiatric conditions and other mental health issues often first present, with the possibility of delaying or derailing these developmental milestones. For these reasons, young adulthood is a critical period-one that can set stage for the rest of a lifetime. Generally, medical trainees and young physicians have treatable mental health conditions, and early identification and treatment can drastically alter the trajectory of illness and their lives. This casebook tackles the common psychiatric illnesses that physicians experience during these early stages of their careers. The cases carefully present guidelines for assessment and management, along with clinical pearls and resources for further reference. Written by experts in the field, the text is designed to be valuable for physicians engaged in medical education and training, and specifically for the psychiatrists who provide care for other physicians. Each chapter includes a unique case and discussion. Topics include: onset of a mood and or psychotic disorder, life transitions, trauma in care, physician suicide, anxiety, and other issues that are part of the experience of young adults developing their personal and professional identities. The patients presented were created as fictional cases to reflect the experiences the authors have had with students and junior doctors who have presented to see them-in the therapy office, the emergency room, or the inpatient psychiatric setting. These are patients who may be difficult to treat, but the care of whom can be particularly rewarding. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)