TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Depression, suicidal thoughts, and burnout among physicians during the CoViD-19 pandemic: a survey-based cross-sectional study
JO  - Academic psychiatry
A1  - Hong, Houlin
A1  - Paulus, Megan
A1  - Muhlrad, Samantha
A1  - Bronson, Brian
A1  - Al-Humadi, Samer
A1  - Caceda, Ricardo
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVES: Frontline workers have been a bulwark in the fight against COVID-19, while being subject to major unexpected stressors. These include conflicting news, evolving guidelines, perceived inadequate personal protective equipment, overflow of patients with rising death counts, absence of disaster training, and limitations in the implementation of social distancing. This study investigates the incidence and associated factors of depression, suicidal thoughts, and burnout among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. <br><br>METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey-based study of resident, fellow, and attending physicians from a tertiary university hospital during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York from April 24 to May 15, 2020, demographics and practice specialty, attending vs. resident/fellow status, call frequency, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and depression severity were examined. <br><br>RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-five subjects completed the survey (response rate of 16.3%), with rates of 6.2% depression, 6.6% suicidal ideation, and 19.6% burnout. Depression, suicidal ideation, and burnout were all associated with history of prior depression/anxiety and frequency of on call. Suicidal ideation and burnout were also associated with younger age. There was no difference in rates of depression, suicidal ideation, or burnout between attending and resident physicians. Female physicians reported less work-life balance and more burnout. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of considering physician mental health during times of peak stress, such as natural or man-made disasters. The prominence of premorbid depression/anxiety as a relevant factor underscores the need to further understand physician mental health and provide early screening and treatment.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1042-9670
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40596-021-01490-3
ID  - ref1
ER  -