Suicide Rates Among Physicians: a Quantitative and Gender Assessment (Meta-analysis)

In this study, physicians’ suicide rate ratios were estimated with a meta-analysis & systematic quality assessment of recent studies. 25 studies met the criteria for inclusion: publication in or after 1960, estimates of age-standardized suicide rates of physicians & their reference population, or extractable data on physicians’ suicide. Results indicate modestly (men) to highly (women) elevated suicide rate ratios. Larger studies should help clarify whether female physicians’ suicide rate is truly elevated or can be explained by publication bias. (60 refs.)