When the Diagnosis Is Not Burnout: Key Diagnostics & Treatment Imperatives-View Presentation

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Video Summary

In this comprehensive webinar, Dr. Michael Myers, a clinical psychiatry professor and specialist in physician health, discusses the psychiatric assessment and treatment of physicians experiencing burnout and mental illness. Emphasizing that burnout is often intertwined with DSM-5-TR diagnoses like adjustment disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, substance use, and others, Dr. Myers stresses the need to identify conditions masquerading as burnout. Through case studies, including a 46-year-old physician feeling “broken” and others, he illustrates the subjective experience of illness among doctors, noting their tendency to intellectualize symptoms and distance themselves due to stigma and shame.<br /><br />Dr. Myers highlights the importance of involving family and collateral sources in assessment, addressing internalized and external stigma, and maintaining high clinical standards, particularly with suicidal physicians. He underscores the value of diverse therapeutic approaches—psychotherapy, medications, ECT, and physician coaching—and continuous, empathic care. The presentation covers underrecognized issues like physician PTSD, especially amid COVID-19 pandemic stresses, and substance use disorders, emphasizing the significance of trusted physician health programs.<br /><br />Dr. Myers advocates for listening with care, responding promptly, and collaborating with patients and families while acknowledging physicians’ fears about confidentiality and licensure impacts. He also stresses post-traumatic growth as a positive outcome following trauma. The session concludes with a Q&A addressing barriers physicians face seeking help, the role of insurance and coaching in burnout treatment, and the debate on including burnout in psychiatric manuals. Overall, Dr. Myers calls for compassionate, nonjudgmental, and comprehensive care tailored to physicians’ unique clinical and cultural needs.

Keywords

Physician burnout

Psychiatric assessment

Mental illness in physicians

DSM-5-TR diagnoses

Physician PTSD

Substance use disorders

Physician health programs

Therapeutic approaches

Stigma and shame

Post-traumatic growth