Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:752-754
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
After commissioner, what?
M Greenblatt, KD Gaver and E Sherwood
One hundred nine psychiatrists who had been commissioners of state
departments of mental health answered a questionnaire about their
experiences after being commissioners. Most of these former commissioners
got jobs they wanted after leaving the post. Those who experienced
"decompression" adjustment difficulties tended to be less satisfied with
subsequent jobs and were willing to serve again as commissioner. An
important factor in decompression was a sense of loss and depression over
having to abandon important unfinished work. The authors speculate that the
large-scale opportunities for challenge and mastery characteristic of the
job of commissioner are rarely matched in subsequent jobs.
