The Role Of The Occupational Psychiatrist (Abstract)

Stephen Heidel, M.D.

from Psychological and Corporate Issues in Occupational Dysfunction
Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, Volume 11, Number 4
Ibrahim Farid and Carroll Brodsky (eds). Hanley & Belfus, October-December 1996.

Numerous behavioral problems arise in the workplace for which an occupational psychiatrist is uniquely trained and experienced to assess and help manage. These include impaired executives, violence or threats of violence and crises in the workplace. Impaired executives first need to be assessed to determine the cause and severity of their dysfunction. Concerns often surface when an executive may not be capable on continuing to work in their current position or following an extended disability leave when the organization is uncertain if the individual is able to return to their previous position. Following a threat of violence or a violent act, organizations are faced with how to handle the employee in question. This may include a threat assessment to better manage the risks to other employees, the organization and the community. Crisis management services are provided after a work group has experienced a crisis and are emotionally overwhelmed by the situation. A consultation with management and specific interventions with key managers and employees may resolve the problem and allow the organization to refocus and move on.