Clinical and demographic profile of anesthesiologists using alcohol and other drugs under treatment in a pioneering program in Brazil

Abstracts

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Anestesiologistas são os mais representados em serviços de atendimento a médicos com transtornos por uso de substâncias psicoativas. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um estudo descritivo sobre o perfil clínico e sociodemográfico de uma amostra de anestesiologistas dependentes químicos atendidos em um serviço de referência, bem como elencar comorbidades psiquiátricas, drogas frequentemente utilizadas e repercussões psicossociais e profissionais do consumo. MÉTODO: Realizou-se estudo transversal, prospectivo, tendo sido aplicadas entrevistas estruturadas para diagnóstico de transtornos mentais e transtornos por uso de substâncias psicoativas, com base na Classificação Internacional de Doenças - Versão 10 - e questionário sócio-ocupacional, aplicados por dois pesquisadores treinados. RESULTADOS: Cinquenta e sete anestesiologistas foram entrevistados, em sua maioria do sexo masculino (77,2%), idade média de 36,1 anos (DP = 8,5). Observou-se uma alta prevalência de uso de opioides (59,6%), benzodiazepínicos (35,1%) e álcool (35,1%). Usuários de opioides procuraram tratamento mais precocemente comparado aos não usuários desta substância e, geralmente, sob influência da pressão de colegas ou do conselho regional de medicina. O uso de drogas como automedicação foi elevado dentro deste subgrupo. CONCLUSÕES: Anestesiologistas podem apresentar um perfil distinto de risco de uso de opioides. O padrão de início de consumo, associado aos anos de residência médica ou aos primeiros anos da prática médica, reforça a hipótese de dependência de opioides como problema ocupacional entre anestesiologistas.

anestesiologista; doenças; ocupacionais

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Los anestesiólogos son los más representados en los servicios de atención a médicos con trastornos por el uso de sustancias psicoactivas. El objetivo de este trabajo, es presentar un estudio descriptivo sobre el perfil clínico y socio-demográfico de una muestra de anestesiólogos dependientes químicos, atendidos en un servicio de referencia, como también discriminar las comorbilidades psiquiátricas, las drogas a menudo utilizadas y las repercusiones psicosociales y profesionales del consumo. MÉTODO: Se hizo un estudio transversal, prospectivo, y se aplicaron entrevistas estructuradas para el diagnóstico de los trastornos mentales y de los trastornos por el uso de sustancias psicoactivas, con base en la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (Versión 10) y cuestionario socio-ocupacional, aplicados por dos investigadores entrenados para tal función. RESULTADOS: Cincuenta y siete anestesiólogos fueron entrevistados, en su mayoría del sexo masculino (77,2%), edad promedio de 36,1 años (DE = 8,5). Se observó una alta prevalencia del uso de opioides (59,6%), benzodiazepínicos (35,1%) y alcohol (35,1%). Los usuarios de opioides buscaron tratamiento más rápidamente si los comparamos con los no usuarios de esa sustancia y generalmente, bajo la influencia de la presión de colegas o del Órgano Regional de Medicina. El uso de drogas como automedicación fue elevado dentro de este subgrupo. CONCLUSIONES: Los anestesiólogos pueden presentar un perfil distinto de riesgo de uso de opioides. El estándar de inicio de consumo, asociado a los años de residencia o a los primeros años de la práctica médica, refuerza la hipótesis de dependencia de opioides como el problema ocupacional entre los anestesiólogos.

anestesiólogos; enfermidades; ocupacionais

MISCELLANEOUS

Clinical and demographic profile of anesthesiologists using alcohol and other drugs under treatment in a pioneering program in Brazil

Hamer Nastasy Palhares Alves^I; Denise Leite Vieira^II; Ronaldo Ramos Laranjeira^III; Joaquim Edson Vieira^IV; Luiz Antônio Nogueira Martins^V

^IPhD, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP); Researcher, Drug and Alcohol Research Unit (UNIAD/INPAD)

^IIPhD, UNIFESP; Researcher, UNIAD

^IIIFull Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP

^IVProfessor, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP); Researcher, Department of Anesthesiology, FM-USP

^VAssociate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UNIFESP

^{Correspondence to}

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anesthesiologists are the majority in impaired-physician programs that assist physicians who abuse psychoactive substances. The aim of this paper is to show a descriptive study about the clinical and sociodemographic profile of a sample of chemically dependent anesthesiologists treated in a reference program. In addition, the objective is to cite the psychiatric comorbities, the most frequently used drugs and the psychosocial and professional repercussions of substance abuse.

METHOD: A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted, and a socio-occupational questionnaire and a structured interview were carried out to diagnose mental and psychoactive substance use disorders, according to the International Classification of Diseases (the ICD-10). The questionnaire and the structured interview were carried out by two skilled researchers.

RESULTS: Fifty-seven anesthesiologists were interviewed. Most of them were male (77.2%), and the mean age was 36.1 years (SD = 8.5%). A high prevalence of abuse of opioid (59.6%), benzodiazepine (3.1%) and alcohol (35.1%) was observed. Opioid users sought treatment earlier than other substance users and usually they were under pressure from their colleagues and the Regional Council of Medicine. The incidence of drug abuse for self-medication was high in this subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS: Anesthesiologists may present a different profile concerning the risks of opioid use. Opioid abuse usually begins during medical residency or during the first years of clinical practice, which supports the hypothesis that addiction to opioids is an occupational issue among anesthesiologists.

Keywords: anesthesiology; occupational diseases; opioid-related disorders; mental health.

INTRODUCTION

Drug use is one of the main causes of the loss of work capacity and early retirement¹. Psychoactive substance abuse among physicians is as prevalent as among the general population^2-4.

Anesthesiologists are usually the focus of research related to chemical dependence among physicians^4-6. In a clinical sample of 198 Brazilian substance-addicted physicians, although anesthesiologists represent approximately 3% of physicians, they formed 12.5% of those under treatment for substance-abuse⁷. Additionally, compared to other physicians, mortality risks related to suicide and chemical dependence is higher among anesthesiologists⁸.

Opioid abuse among anesthesiologists has been widely reported in the medical literature^4,5,9,10. A study reported that the incidence of opioid abuse among medical residents is 1.6%. Residents are particularly vulnerable to experimentation with drugs¹¹.

Physicians, especially anesthesiologists, are under constant pressure related to their jobs, which include an insalubrious environment, emergency-related stress, work overload, and night shift. In addition, there are other two particularly relevant issues: the easy access to highly addictive substances and the habit of self-medicating to relieve insomnia, anxiety and physical pain^4,5.

This study was aimed at describing the sociodemographic and occupational profile of a sample of anesthesiologists treated in a reference program, reporting the reasons that led physicians to seek treatment and the main psychiatric comorbities, studying the association among various substance abuse patterns, and at discussing the hypothesis of the influence of occupational issues on chemical dependence among anesthesiologists.

METHOD

This descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted at the Drug and Alcohol Research Unit of the Department of Psychiatry of the Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Paulista School of Medicine).

The present study is part of the project called "Cuidando de médicos com dependência química: perfil clínico e demográfico de uma amostra de médicos em tratamento ambulatorial" ("Treating Chemical-dependent Physicians: the clinical and demographic profile of physicians treated in outpatient settings") and was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Paulo (Nº 1230/03).

Sample group

All anesthesiologists who sought treatment for noxious substance use or substance dependence and who agreed to participate in the study by signing the informed consent form between 2002 and 2009 (N = 57) were included in the sample.

These anesthesiologists sought treatment by means of a specific program for the treatment of physicians. This program provides treatment and orientation and is aimed at guaranteeing quick access to treatment, as well as protecting the public and the physician himself. This program is subsidized by the São Paulo State Regional Council of Medicine (CREMESP).

Procedures

Two interviewers - psychiatrists who are experts in treating alcohol and other drug dependence - were trained in order to achieve a concordance level of 85% in 14 training interviews, before data collection. After training, each of the interviewers conducted semi-structured interviews, lasting about 90 minutes, to register sociodemographic and occupational data, patterns of substance use, and psychiatric comorbities. The interviews were carried out when the patient entered treatment, i.e., at the first or second medical appointment. The interviewers established the psychiatric diagnoses based on the Symptom Checklist, according to the ICD-10 criteria¹².

Correlated variables such as unemployment, marriage conflicts, car accidents, hospitalization for mental illness, professional issues, problems with the Regional Council of Medicine and self-medication were assessed by means of yes/no answers.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive analyses were conducted in order to describe the sociodemographic profiles of the sample. The categorical variables were described by using simple frequencies. For the numeric variables, the median (M) and the standard deviation (SD) were calculated. The chi-square test (χ²) was used to verify associations among variables using a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven anesthesiologists, 44 male (77.2%) and 13 (22.8%) female, were evaluated. The mean age of physicians seeking treatment was 36.1 years (SD = 8.5).

Most of physicians reported only drug abuse (37 cases or 64.9%). A second group reported only alcohol abuse (10 cases or 17.5%), and another group reported alcohol and other drug abuse (10 cases or 17.5%).

Opioid abuse was reported by 34 anesthesiologists (59.6%), and opioid was the most common drug used by the sample. Among opioid abusers, 88% showed an intense consumption pattern, which can be linked to dependence (Tables I and ^II).

Anesthesiologists abusing opioids sought treatment earlier, usually in the first year of the substance dependence (p = 0.048).

As for the sequence of substances used in the beginning of drug consumption, one third of the sample (19 cases) developed drug dependence by using opioids, while 16 (28.1%) started with alcohol abuse and 10 (17.5%) with benzodiazepine abuse. Finally, 12 (21.0%) developed dependence with illicit drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine.

Those initiating alcohol abuse took longer to seek treatment (p = 0.037). Those using illicit drugs developed dependence on a higher number of substances (p < 0.001).

The incidence of self-medication was higher among opioid users (89.5%) or other drug users (81.8%), compared to 50% of the group of alcohol users (p = 0.021).

DISCUSSION

Studies about physicians and alcohol and other drug addiction can be conducted in three modus operandi¹³: by means of epidemiological studies, analysis of the cases submitted to disciplinary procedures and the analysis of the people attending specific clinical programs. Substance addiction among physicians is a difficult issue, as there is a strong tendency on the part of physicians to deny or minimize the problem for fear of the consequences related to their jobs or professional status. In the present paper we studied a convenience sample consisting of anesthesiologists seeking treatment due to issues related to noxious use/dependence on alcohol and other drugs in a specific program for treating physicians.

In this sample the use of alcohol and drugs has led to several consequences, such as professional issues (87.7%), marriage conflicts (52.6%), hospitalization for mental illness (29.1%), car accidents (21.1%) and unemployment in the previous year (17.5%). Problems with the Regional Council of Medicine were also frequent (24.6%).

Redirection to another medical specialty, which occurred in five cases (8.8%), requires a thorough investigation. It is possibly a necessary measure taken to protect both the physician and the public from the noxious dependence consequences.

In this study we observed significant differences among opioid users and non-users. Opioid users were younger (p = 0.037) and sought treatment earlier than the non-users (p = 0.048). Additionally, initiation to substance abuse coincided with the beginning of medical residency and the period immediately following residency. Residents seem to be more vulnerable to opioid dependence¹¹.

The incidence of self-medication was also greater among opioid users (91.2%), compared to 52.5% of opioid non-users (p = 0.001). Therefore, avoiding self-medication can be one of the prevention measures against drug dependence among anesthesiologists.

Opioid users stated different reasons from other abusers for entering treatment. They sought treatment especially because they were under pressure from their colleagues or from the Regional Council of Medicine; family pressure was less common (p = 0.013).

Professional problems being more relevant than family issues among opioid-dependent physicians may be due to the fact that substance abuse or diversion occurs in the workplace. It is therefore necessary to instruct physicians so that they can be able to detect and manage the opioid-related problems, considering that the family is not always prepared to identify the problem.

We could identify three different subgroups according to the drug initially used. The first group (18 cases or 31.6%) started using drugs earlier and abused a greater number of drugs. The second group (10 cases or 17.5%) consisted exclusively of alcohol abusers. They sought treatment later and there was also a great time gap between the moment of problem detection and the search for therapeutic support. The third group (29 cases or 50.9%) consisted of individuals who did not have any history of substance abuse or dependence until they suddenly started to use opioids or benzodiazepine, usually administered intravenously.

There is a remarkable difference between the profile of the opioid-dependent anesthesiologists shown in this study and the opioid users in the general population¹⁴, as psychiatric comorbities were less frequent (44.1% vs. 65.2%, respectively), as well as the personality disorders (10.5% vs. 36.7%, respectively). In addition, problems concerning alcohol use were less common (23.5% vs. 65.9%, respectively). Data suggests that, besides personality disorders and psychiatric comorbities, other specific factors may have influenced the development of opioid dependence among anesthesiologists of the sample. Therefore, these findings suggest that the analysis of the psychiatric or personality psychopathology may not be enough to detect individuals more vulnerable to opioid addiction. That is why universal and extensive prevention is recommended to all anesthesiologists.

The results reported here draw attention to occupational factors specific to the anesthesiology specialty, such as insalubrious environments, easy access to highly addictive substances, great expectations to solve problems using medicament ("pharmacological optimism")¹⁵, lack of any taboo against needles and injections, self-medication and environmental exposure to aerosolized particles of drugs that may produce neurobiological sensitization and make experimentation more likely¹⁶. There are evidences that fentanyl and propofol are present in the operating room air¹⁷.

These facts highlight the necessity of acknowledging that chemical dependence among anesthesiologists is probably associated to occupational issues. This paradigm shift would produce considerable change in how to deal with these patients. The attention given by other physicians, the guarantee of labor rights and a more empathetic approach can lead to a more effective and early treatment. Impaired physicians may not seek treatment for fear of professional consequences. Therefore, all physicians should be responsible for actively helping their colleagues to seek the appropriate treatment.

Limitations

As we used a convenience sample, it is difficult to expand the findings shown in this study to the anesthesiologists in need of medical treatment due to substance abuse. Therefore, data shown in this research is not a representative sample of the population of substance-dependent anesthesiologists. But, as substance-dependent physicians are a "hidden" class to which it is difficult to approach, our data can help understand the problem.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank the strategic and financial support from the São Paulo State Regional Council of Medicine (CREMESP).

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Submitted on May 20, 2011.

Approved on August 3, 2011.

Received from the Drug and Alcohol Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Escola Paulista de Medicina - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  05 June 2012
• Date of issue
  June 2012

History

• Received
  20 May 2011
• Accepted
  03 Aug 2011