4 Topic Commentaries

When Burnout Masks Treatable Psychiatric Illness

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  Srijan Sen, MD, PhD

  Psychiatry; Depression research

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  University of Michigan Medical School

  The current framing of physician burnout perpetuates misunderstandings and stigma associated with depression and deters us from fully utilizing the tools that can prevent and treat depression.

  Source
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  Maria A. Oquendo, MD, PhD

  Psychiatry; Suicide prevention

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  Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

  However, erroneously labeling a physician’s distress as burnout may prevent or delay appropriate treatment of MDD, a serious and sometimes life-threatening mental disorder.

  Source
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  Tait D. Shanafelt, MD

  Hematology/Oncology; Physician well-being

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  Stanford University School of Medicine

  Depression is a mental health condition with a biological basis that is treated at an individual level.

  Source
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  Susan Lehmann, MD

  Geriatric Psychiatry

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  Johns Hopkins Medicine

  It’s not so mystical, but because she wasn’t tearful, her doctors never considered depression.

  Source