Psychiatric Conditions Affecting Physicians With Disruptive Behavior

The recent focus on physician well-being has highlighted the prevalence of burnout, psychological distress, and “disruptive behavior.” However, the prevention and treatment of disruptive physician behavior has been limited by lack of empirical data. Disruptive behavior is a complex construct with no consistent definition. The AMA describes it as “personal conduct, whether verbal or physical, that negatively affects or that potentially may negatively affect patient care,” and the Joint Commission definition includes all “behaviors that undermine a culture of safety.”1,2