Resource Tag: OCCUPATIONS. PHYSICIANS

his article focuses on doctors and suicide. It provides real examples to illustrate why doctors die by their own hand. These reasons are replicated in the general population, but also include a host of additional risk factors related to being a doctor. In each case, information about the doctor is in the public domain or, […]

The suicide rate for physicians is higher than that of any other profession in the past year, more than 400 physicians have committed suicide.1,2 Physicians have a far higher suicide completion rate than does the general public; the most reliable estimates range from 1.4 to 2.3 times the rate in the general population, perhaps, in […]

This study evaluated the survival data of all Taiwanese doctors & ascertained whether doctors experience premature mortality. Death & census data from 1990-2006 were obtained for all practicing doctors in Taiwan. Cause-specific standardized mortality ratios were calculated using the general population of Taiwan as the reference. Doctors in Taiwan were found to be less likely […]

Using national physician insurance data from January 2000-April 2008, this study explored the association between physicians’ suicide & their characteristics. The majority of suicide cases occurred among physicians in their 40s. More suicides were reported among physicians serving in the community, living in urban areas, & from specialties such as general practice, family practice, psychiatry, […]

Following a cluster of medical student & physician suicides in one medical community, medical trainees anonymously shared their views regarding seeking mental health treatment in light of current disclosure requirements for medical licensure. In an effort to identify medical licensure questions that more accurately assess for potential impairment – replacing the stigmatizing global inquiry about […]

Residents are at a higher risk than the general population for the development of stress-related problems, depression, or suicide. The authors describe a curriculum for educating residents & program directors about physician impairment. A resident wellness program was established with the goals of preventing suicide, encouraging acceptance of treatment when appropriate, preventing self-prescribing, & aiding […]

A cohort of 3769 male anaesthetists resident in the United Kingdom between 1957-1983 was followed up for a total of 51,431 person years of observation. With all men in social class I being taken as the standard, the standardised mortality ratio among anaesthetists for all causes of death was 68. 16 of the 221 deaths […]

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Suicide among physicians is examined. The majority of studies indicate higher rates of suicide among physicians than the general population, particularly among female physicians. Potential contributory factors include various Axis I disorders, cognitive style, psychosocial factors, & particular personality characteristics. (37 refs.)

This presentation discussed a study of admissions & discharges from all Scottish psychiatric hospitals & units of male doctors & other social class I males over a 10-year period. A second study investigated a sample of 41 alcoholic physicians. The studies suggested an additional factor that increased risk of suicide among physicians is their increased […]

In this personal opinion piece, the author, a second-year medical student, reflects on the pressures facing students before & during their training. She discusses the need for medical schools to respond more proactively to the demands placed upon students. (3 refs.)

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Data in this report are from the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance database & are derived from deaths in 28 American states between 1984-1995. Among both white & black men, physicians were, on average, older when they died than were lawyers, all examined professionals, & all men. The top ten causes of death for white male […]

This study assessed the prevalence of depression & anxiety among Ontario family medicine residents & described their coping strategies. Residents entering, advancing in, or graduating from residency programs were surveyed by mail. The prevalence of depressive disorders was 20% & generalized anxiety disorder, 12%. Medical training was commonly identified as a negative influence on the […]

Using all deaths & corresponding census data in 26 American states, the suicide risk for working physicians & dentists was examined. Death & census data for working people were obtained from 1984 through 1992. Directly age-standardized suicide rate ratios were calculated for white male & white female physicians & white male dentists. For white female […]

An estimated 250 American physicians will die by suicide in 2008. In this essay, the author shares her grief & guilt over the suicide of a colleague while reflecting on both the scale of this largely unacknowledged problem & the stigma that prevents the medical profession from adequately addressing it. Fears regarding loss of professional […]

This study describes doctors who participated in a self-referral, easily accessible counselling program in Norway & compares them with a nationwide sample of doctors. 227 of the doctors who came to the program between August 2003 & July 2005 agreed to participate. 49% of these doctors were emotionally exhausted compared with 25% of all Norwegian […]

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