Can A Psychiatrist Get Depression?

Posted on Fri, 4 Oct 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 4 Oct 2013 Answered on

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello doctor

Can a psychiatrist get depression ?
Have you ever seen this in your career ?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Preeti Parakh (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes and yes.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXX,

Welcome back!

Yes, a psychiatrist, like any other human being, can get depression, which is a disease just like any other.

I know a doctor who suffered from a depressive episode while she was doing her residency in psychiatry. She recovered, completed her course and is now a young mother as well as a qualified psychiatrist. She recovered with the help of an antidepressant medication called venlafaxine.

Hope this answers your query.

Best wishes.

Dr Preeti Parakh
MD Psychiatry

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar