Clinical Note

Psychiatrist Attitudes toward Self-Treatment of Their Own Depression
Richard Balon

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Psychother Psychosom 2007;76:306-310 (DOI: 10.1159/000104707)

  Key Words

• Depression
• Self-treatment
• Psychiatrists

  Abstract

Background: Self-treatment and treatments of friends or relatives is a controversial issue, tolerated by some and discouraged by others, including professionals. The author studied the attitudes toward self-treatment of depression among psychiatrists in Michigan. Method: A questionnaire asking whether the psychiatrist would or did self-treat for depression was mailed to 830 members of the Michigan Psychiatric Society. Results: The response rate was 68.3% (567 psychiatrists). Almost 43% of responders would consider self-medication or would self-medicate if afflicted with mild/moderate depression. Seven percent would self-medicate or consider self-medication for severe depression or if suicidal ideation became a component of one's depression. In the past, 15.7% responders treated themselves for depression. Conclusion: These results suggest that a considerable number of psychiatrists would treat themselves for depression, possibly because of fear of stigma or fear of a permanent record, or other reasons.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Richard Balon, MD
UPC-Jefferson
2751 E. Jefferson No. 200
Detroit, MI 48207 (USA)
Tel. +1 313 993 3416, Fax +1 313 993 3422, E-Mail rbalon@wayne.edu

  Article Information

Presented at New Research, American Psychiatric Association 154th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, La., USA, May 5-10, 2001.

Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 14