Required to disclose previous psychiatric problems?

[marcy10]

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I'm not sure where to post this, but here goes: I've been accepted to medical school and part of the registration is a health history form which asks whether or not I've ever been hospitalized or treated for depression. I was never treated medically for depression however I was hospitalized for an attempted suicide. I'm a different person now and am looking to start fresh and so have a few questions (please, I am not looking for judgemental attitudes regarding my past):

1. Am I required to disclose any of this to my school? Is it possible that they will revoke my admission upon seeing this disclosure?

2. How will this affect my professional career (as in will this affect my ability to obtain a license)

I do not want my teachers (professors and attendings) to see my medical record and treat me differently. I feel that despite all our gains in knowledge in treating depression that their is still a great stigma against those with a history of psychiatric problems. Thank you so much for your time and help!

 

[stinkycheese]

I'm not sure where to post this, but here goes: I've been accepted to medical school and part of the registration is a health history form which asks whether or not I've ever been hospitalized or treated for depression. I was never treated medically for depression however I was hospitalized for an attempted suicide. I'm a different person now and am looking to start fresh and so have a few questions (please, I am not looking for judgemental attitudes regarding my past):

1. Am I required to disclose any of this to my school?

No.

Is it possible that they will revoke my admission upon seeing this disclosure?

Yes

2. How will this affect my professional career (as in will this affect my ability to obtain a license)

It shouldn't, as long as you don't have a criminal past.

I do not want my teachers (professors and attendings) to see my medical record and treat me differently

They have no access to your medical recods.

I feel that despite all our gains in knowledge in treating depression that their is still a great stigma against those with a history of psychiatric problems. Thank you so much for your time and help!

You are right. I wouldn't bother disclosing it.

 

[Smurfette]

That sucks. Many people have been treated medically for depression, so I would suspect checking yes would not make you unique in the least--they still won't know if it was a hospitalization or a 3 month course of zoloft after your best friend died in a horrible car wreck when you were 14. But I totally understand the dilemma and would hesitate to check yes for the same reasons.

Your profs and attendings should never know the answer on this form--there's no reason why they should. That being said, random forms filled out that are not under the guise of clinic/health appts (where HIPAA definitely applies) would make me nervous---are these put in your student file?

FYI, some states DO ask that same question (ever treated for depression or anxiety...) on their licensing application. While they cannot access your medical record, if somehow they found out you lied on your licensing app, you could possibly lose your license.

My opinion is check whichever box you are most comfortable with. I don't think anything bad would come of checking no for a random med school entrance form that they'd never have any reason to dispute, but then again, I could be wrong. Go with your gut and good luck.

 

[Kazema]

As long as it doesn't say anything like, "Withholding or falsifying any information on this form will result in withdrawing the offer of acceptance or criminal charges" or whatever then you don't have to disclose.

It depends on where you are whether you'll face discrimination over this. Honestly there still is a stigma against people with psychiatric problems as well as people working in mental health, but some places (and people) are more open-minded about this than others.

 

[!dr_nick!]

On my HNP I admitted to being treated for depression, and I have never heard anything from the school one way or the other about it.

 

[Paws]

Is there anyone official you could talk to about this question? I would be inclined to check 'yes' as that's the truth and lying on this stuff is fatal. Of course, I wouldn't want to have everyone know, including the blabbermouth director of student affairs at my school (ok, I couldn't resist that one, but it's true - she is so way the biggest gossip around 🙄 ).

I would try and talk to the most important person connected to this form, and then just be honest and express what you have expressed to us here. It's rediculous that medicine is so hypocritical about psychiatric stuff, some of the worst people about mental health issues are sometimes medical people. But anyway, be prepared for whatever might come along, and if they are going to be horrible about it, then do you want to be at a school that feels that way about something as common as depression?

I actually went into a hospital once for depression and anxiety because I was working for a man who had become violent and would stand over me shaking his fist at me. When I went to Human resources about it, they asked me: so, what's the problem exactly? It was really awful, and I admit it flipped me out.

Do I regret going to the hopsital? no, that's what medical professionals recommended. Am I going to be penalized by medical professionals for this? maybe, but does that make much sense really?

Maybe we could work on changing the attutde around this stuff ...

As for future licensing etc., when a speaker from our local state licensing board came to speak to our first year class, he said that the review boards do not 'care' about these diagnoses in that they judge the person as a 'bad' candidate. Instead, they want to see if you lied about this as that is more indicative of a deeper issue. That would actually be grounds for not receiving certification. He said they will do everything in their power to work with a person to help make them be a good physician. He is the one who recommended talking honestly with people who review these things.

 

[Ross434]

Dont disclose.

Imagine this scenario. A few years from now, somebody is out to get you, they have to go back and look through all your old *classified* medical records, and then go back and dig up your med school application, and find out there's a discrepancy. And then they say what.. "oops! this guy sad he hadnt been hospitalized for depression! he actually HAD BEEN!! OMFG".. they're not going to take away your license.

This situation isnt going to happen.

And just because they *can* revoke admission for stuff like that doesnt mean that they will. They'd revoke if you lied about your grades, but if you misspelled your old address or felt uncomfortable about revealing personal medical history, they're not going to do anything about it, plus they'd fear lawsuit.

 

[marcy10]

for your advice and understanding. I contacted my school and asked about whether or not I had to disclose my previous bouts of depression but did not ask about the hospitalization for the suicide attempt. Regarding the depression, the school official told me I did not have to disclose it if I did not want to - that it was asked simply so they could make sure to medications available if needed. I also contacted the California Medical Board who would not tell me whether or not I had to disclose this information, simply that if I did disclose it, my medical records may have to be revealed in order to evaluate my ability to practice medicine. I am leaning towards not disclosing anything and feel much better with that decision given the support and advice of the members on this board. Thank you again.

 

[thackl]

I don't have any expirience or authority with which to base this, but my gut feeling is that you should not bring it up. What I've noticed in all things from cheating (do a search on this) to medical history is you don't want to tell and they don't want to know.

 

[2009doc]

for your advice and understanding. I contacted my school and asked about whether or not I had to disclose my previous bouts of depression but did not ask about the hospitalization for the suicide attempt. Regarding the depression, the school official told me I did not have to disclose it if I did not want to - that it was asked simply so they could make sure to medications available if needed. I also contacted the California Medical Board who would not tell me whether or not I had to disclose this information, simply that if I did disclose it, my medical records may have to be revealed in order to evaluate my ability to practice medicine. I am leaning towards not disclosing anything and feel much better with that decision given the support and advice of the members on this board. Thank you again.

i was hospitalized for depression at age 17, so i always assumed since i was a minor at the time i did not have to disclose it. were you underage 18 at eh time of your hospialization? but i have wondered about the treatment i received after age 18. i even went to my university health center and was open about my diagnosis and got a presciption for the health clinic. but i'm still inclined not to disclose anything. i don't know, our entire society is so hypocritical when it comes to mental health. did you ask your doctor???

 

[marcy10]

his response was to be open and honest about everything, reason being that if you start hiding things they eventually catch up to you. He did admit however that he didn't know the legal ramfications of disclosing such information however. I'm still debating this in my head, thought my mistakes were just that, my mistakes, turns out something I did in a moment of crisis may come back to me over and over again in the future.

 

[DeLaughterDO]

With the number of people in my class alone that have begun treatment for depression and/or anxiety (many treated at the school student health clinic), I really doubt it is a big deal. I also believe it is against the law to discriminate against someone based upon physical or mental illness.

Don't sweat it - be honest.

 

[tangents]

I think that either way you go, it should be fine.

A good book to read is "An Unquiet Mind" by K. Jameson (spelling?) She is a PhD at Hopkins in the Psych dept, and has Bipolar disorder, with multiple hospitalizations etc. She is a very prolific and respected researcher and clinician. She really struggled with the disclosure issue, and it caused her significant angst. In the end when she did disclose, it was not an issue. Many in the medical field have various psych issues, both past and current. This book was really good, and addresses the same/similar issue in a helpful way. The book is a personal memoir and easy to read.