ABSTRACT
Anxiety disorders are usually caused by a combination of factors, which may include personality factors, difficult life experiences, family history, substance abuse and physical health problems such as thyroid disorders. The impact of mental health disorders amongst doctors is often underestimated. For those in medicine, daily exposure to distress, grief, trauma and uncertainty is normal, as are burnout and sleep disturbances. Doctors tend to work long hours and suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, and the culture of the medical profession is such that the signs of burnout are often worn as 'badges of honour'. For these reasons, it can be difficult to recognise or assess our own mental health issues or those of a work colleague because low-grade depressive or anxiety symptoms in doctors are sometimes perceived as 'normal'. Individual psychological therapies may also be counterproductive when doctors are working in toxic cultures, where bullying, harassment or discrimination is being tolerated.
