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The Case of Jerome Ocean: A Student’s Classic Conundrum

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Early Career Physician Mental Health and Wellness

Abstract

Medical students are confronted by financial and time constraints, geographic peregrinations, and a prolonged identity as a student, all of which may challenge their transition to adulthood. They meet new academic demands and discover the reality of medical school in comparison to antecedent fantasies. The typical stress and anxiety of medical school may make it hard to determine who needs psychiatric treatment, and previously successful or healthy students can find it shaming and difficult to seek help. Newer or less traditional treatments such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and compassion-focused therapy may be less stigmatized and are supported by increasing theoretical, neuroscientific, and clinical evidence. Universal wellness programs offered by schools could help students not coming to psychiatric attention or lighten ordinary burdens. Finally, the relationship of a doctor and student-doctor provides a unique opportunity in evaluation and treatment.

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Correspondence to Janna S. Gordon-Elliott MD .

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Green, C.R., Gordon-Elliott, J.S. (2019). The Case of Jerome Ocean: A Student’s Classic Conundrum. In: Gordon-Elliott, J., Rosen, A. (eds) Early Career Physician Mental Health and Wellness. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10952-3_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10952-3_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10951-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10952-3

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