Stress in psychiatrists: coping with a decade of rapid change

Aims and method The study explored the impact of National Health Service changes on the working and personal lives of psychiatrists. A questionnaire survey was carried out with psychiatrists working in the South Eastern Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Results The response rate was 44.9%. Changes to services have reduced stress in some areas, but increased stress in others. Over the past decade early retirement has become less popular, but psychiatrists have been more likely to self-prescribe and have suicidal thoughts. Clinical implications The increasing involvement of psychiatrists in leadership may be a way to reduce adverse impacts of future changes on their working lives.