Getting treated for a mental illness but worried about future licensing in CA

[abilitiesonfire]

I'm a current medical student (M1) who sought therapy because I was having a hard time dealing with stress, anxiety and personal issues. I was told I have situational adjustment disorder and was recommended to go on a very low dose of Lexapro for the anxiety/depression I've been feeling.

However, I'm really worried about what this will mean for me in the future when I try to get licensed. Specifically, in CA, I know that the application asks, "Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely?" Would I now have to say yes for this question? What determines whether a disorder impairs your ability to practice medicine safely?

Honestly, I'm really worried about the stigma. I've looked through a lot of older threads about not leaving a paper trail, paying in cash if you can, etc. Should I really be so worried about seeking help? Thank you in advance.

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[673441]

That's a really good question! As far as I'm concerned it's your own business and shouldn't be disclosed if you don't want it to be. But I don't really know the legality of this.


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[orthogenes]

I'm a current medical student (M1) who sought therapy because I was having a hard time dealing with stress, anxiety and personal issues. I was told I have situational adjustment disorder and was recommended to go on a very low dose of Lexapro for the anxiety/depression I've been feeling.

However, I'm really worried about what this will mean for me in the future when I try to get licensed. Specifically, in CA, I know that the application asks, "Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely?" Would I now have to say yes for this question? What determines whether a disorder impairs your ability to practice medicine safely?

Honestly, I'm really worried about the stigma. I've looked through a lot of older threads about not leaving a paper trail, paying in cash if you can, etc. Should I really be so worried about seeking help? Thank you in advance.

Presumably by the time you get licensed you will know how to manage it and it will not "impair your ability to practice medicine safely" so the answer would just be, "no."

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

No. I was on Wellbutrin as a medical student and half of residency. As long as the mental illness doesn't actually cause any problems you're fine.

Its partially a judgement question. If you have run of the mill depression/anxiety type issues that are controlled well enough, its not an issue. Now if you've been hospitalized for suicidal ideation/attempts twice in the last year, that's a different story.

Simply being on a psych drug rarely raises any flags... unless that drug is something like Haldol. If you're schizophrenic, the board should probably be aware of that.

 

[Goro]

I have had plenty, and I really mean plenty, of students who have had bouts of mental illness treated in med school and ended up doing fine in matching and continuing their career!

I'm a current medical student (M1) who sought therapy because I was having a hard time dealing with stress, anxiety and personal issues. I was told I have situational adjustment disorder and was recommended to go on a very low dose of Lexapro for the anxiety/depression I've been feeling.

However, I'm really worried about what this will mean for me in the future when I try to get licensed. Specifically, in CA, I know that the application asks, "Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely?" Would I now have to say yes for this question? What determines whether a disorder impairs your ability to practice medicine safely?

Honestly, I'm really worried about the stigma. I've looked through a lot of older threads about not leaving a paper trail, paying in cash if you can, etc. Should I really be so worried about seeking help? Thank you in advance.

 

[abilitiesonfire]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of the advice! I guess I'm primarily worried about it being on my medical record and what that means in the long run for licensing or even insurance. I've read about difficulties getting insurance (disability/life) because of a history of mental health issues. I know it's better to get help than to go without, but the repercussions are worrisome. I know this is all years away for me, but it's something I want to be prepared for when the time comes.

"Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely?" For example, a lot of advice I have been receiving concerning this question on the licensing application for CA has been to say no. Can anyone else shed some light on this in particular? I don't think my problems are severe, and I hope to have them resolved soon. I don't think my current issues would affect my ability to practice medicine, but that's very subjective? Never been hospitalized or anything.

 

[Cinclus]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of the advice! I guess I'm primarily worried about it being on my medical record and what that means in the long run for licensing or even insurance. I've read about difficulties getting insurance (disability/life) because of a history of mental health issues. I know it's better to get help than to go without, but the repercussions are worrisome. I know this is all years away for me, but it's something I want to be prepared for when the time comes.

"Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely?" For example, a lot of advice I have been receiving concerning this question on the licensing application for CA has been to say no. Can anyone else shed some light on this in particular? I don't think my problems are severe, and I hope to have them resolved soon. I don't think my current issues would affect my ability to practice medicine, but that's very subjective? Never been hospitalized or anything.

Is there any objective evidence that it will affect your ability to practice? Do you have psychotic features, poor judgment related to mood disorder, etc, etc, etc.? If in 4 years, you cannot list objective reasons for how it will affect your practice, you can say no. That's why the "that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely" part is added on at the end.

 

[Smurfette]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of the advice! I guess I'm primarily worried about it being on my medical record and what that means in the long run for licensing or even insurance. I've read about difficulties getting insurance (disability/life) because of a history of mental health issues. I know it's better to get help than to go without, but the repercussions are worrisome. I know this is all years away for me, but it's something I want to be prepared for when the time comes.
.

As far as disability/life insurance, you should not be uninsurable based on this. If you have a history of something, it may be excluded on the insurance if you are considered high risk for that particular issue. So you may be able to get insurance, but no coverage in the event the disability/death is secondary to anxiety/depression. Or it may not be much of an issue at all depending on how "old" this is at the time you are applying for the insurance, especially if considered mild.

 

[charmiedermie]

I'm a current medical student (M1) who sought therapy because I was having a hard time dealing with stress, anxiety and personal issues. I was told I have situational adjustment disorder and was recommended to go on a very low dose of Lexapro for the anxiety/depression I've been feeling.

However, I'm really worried about what this will mean for me in the future when I try to get licensed. Specifically, in CA, I know that the application asks, "Have you ever been diagnosed with an emotional, mental, or behavioral disorder that may impair your ability to practice medicine safely?" Would I now have to say yes for this question? What determines whether a disorder impairs your ability to practice medicine safely?

Honestly, I'm really worried about the stigma. I've looked through a lot of older threads about not leaving a paper trail, paying in cash if you can, etc. Should I really be so worried about seeking help? Thank you in advance.

1) Don't tell fellow students, residents, or faculty. Keep it to yourself and family.
2) Keep all visits cash pay only
3) Take your medication
4) What you have is not impairing, so you can say no. It's not like schizophrenia.