Question re Depression and Active Duty

[BusyDoc]

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I went through medical school on an HPSP scholarship but have been on deferment for civilian residency. I will be finishing residency this year and am awaiting assignment. During residency I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, started on medication which has helped but not corrected. I told the military at the time of diagnosis, never heard anything, but now the medical review board has not yet released me for my enlistment physical. Does anyone know if depression will likely keep me from being brought on active duty?

 

[BigNavyPedsGuy]

I went through medical school on an HPSP scholarship but have been on deferment for civilian residency. I will be finishing residency this year and am awaiting assignment. During residency I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, started on medication which has helped but not corrected. I told the military at the time of diagnosis, never heard anything, but now the medical review board has not yet released me for my enlistment physical. Does anyone know if depression will likely keep me from being brought on active duty?

It shouldn't. I diagnosed dozens of people with depression and started them on meds in an operational billet.

 

[IgD]

I served as a psychiatrist in the Navy. I don't know anything about your situation but I would agree you can serve on active duty with depression. The concern I would have is if you are medically disqualified the military would bill you for all the HPSP expenses.

 

[Gastrapathy]

I served as a psychiatrist in the Navy. I don't know anything about your situation but I would agree you can serve on active duty with depression. The concern I would have is if you are medically disqualified the military would bill you for all the HPSP expenses.

Are you aware of this having EVER happened? I'd be much more concerned that they would be likely to retain a depressed med school graduate and launch that person straight into internship.

 

[IgD]

Are you aware of this having EVER happened? I'd be much more concerned that they would be likely to retain a depressed med school graduate and launch that person straight into internship.

Not sure what you are asking. Can you rephrase the question?

 

[TheGoose]

i think he was asking if you've ever seen anyone (already commissioned) get medically DQ'ed for depression (thus having to pay back all the HPSP money)

 

[NavyFP]

i think he was asking if you've ever seen anyone (already commissioned) get medically DQ'ed for depression (thus having to pay back all the HPSP money)

Not in the Navy.

 

[CBMD]

I don't think you'll get sep'd for depression NOS, (although a Navy psych friend of mine told me that MDD recurrent is grounds for med board, still I think you'd have to be really scrweing up for that to happen. The one guy I med boarded for that (he was enlisted) became a danger to himself and others which is what prompted the board) It's also a lot harder to be separated as an officer, especially as a medical officer if you don't want to be sep'd. So I'd get the help you need and not worry about it. The below thread does have some good info on possible ramifications of an active psych diagnosis mainly if you are taking meds that you may want to browse to get a complete picture.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=607378

 

[IgD]

There is a website where you can browse/search findings of the Board for Corrections of Naval Records. It is interesting to type "HPSP" as a search key and see what comes up. I did see several cases where a physician was diagnosed with a medical condition and required to reimburse the government at a prorated rate for HPSP expenses. As I recall, the physicians said "it's not my fault I developed a medical condition" and the board said "the contract says if you can't payback HPSP for any reason you have to reimburse the government".

My experience was it was difficult to make a disability case for depression because it is such a treatable condition. It is very difficult to make a disability case for a physician because we are so high functioning. Don't think I ever saw such a case either.

 

[TheGoose]

"the contract says if you can't payback HPSP for any reason you have to reimburse the government".

hypothetical: First tour Navy GMO on 4 year HPSP gets their helo gunned down and is injured/killed/etc... It would sure be something to see the military come and ask for reimbursement since he couldn't payback his 4 years. (devil's advocate)