Study: Medical Students More Depressed Than General Population
A large-scale study suggests that 21.2 percent of medical students suffer from depression, compared with the 10 percent rate commonly reported for the general population, Inside Higher Ed reports. The study, a survey of 2,000 students that was reported in Academic Medicine, also said that black medical students are particularly prone to suicidal thoughts, with 13 percent reporting "suicidal ideation," versus 5.7 percent of the general population.
More stats:
For medical students, the highest rates of depression—nearly 25 percent—occurred in the second year of study. For residents, the third year proved the most perilous, with 14.6 percent reporting depression.
Over all, medical students reported rates of depression nearly twice as high as those of residents. Of the sample, nearly 22 percent of medical students exhibited signs of depression, compared with about 12 percent of residents.
There were also significant differences in responses based on gender. Women had a 21.6 percent depression rate, compared with a 15.6 percent rate for men.
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Reader Comments
To the person living with a depressed medical student spouce:
I am a 4th year now, and I was depressed as well during my 3rd yr. I think what helped me out a lot was going outside for a run which "cleared my head". Listening to positive music will also help you get through hard times. If you have a religion then I also recommend going to church or a mosque to pray which also helps. And sometimes treat your self to something that pleases you. And always have someone to talk to that you can trust. Someone to just let out your hurt to. This will remove some of that weight. I would do a combination of these things, not just one to significantly improve your outlook on life. Also become interested in the topics of Medicine also helps to keep you interested. ohh i forgot...sex helps 2....but try not to have sex before bed. Drink a cup of warm milk before bed. In fact setting up a daily schedule is great! Exercise in the morning to release the endorphins will help a lot, that way you'll be tired when your about to go to bed and you'll have the best sleep of your life!! And try to think positive. The power of positive thinking is AMAZING.
Significant other
As a significant other of a depressed medical student who is in his 2nd year what would you suggest I do? It is very stressful on my end because I do not feel as if i can do anything to help. I love this man with all my heart and he has said out of his own mouth that he thinks he is depressed. I dont think he would use medicine and he obviously does not have the time to go and sit in an office for an hour to talk to someone about it because he could use that time studing. He has told me why he is so stressed and they are all real reasons and I think I would be stressed also. Help!
Med School Woes
First and foremost, to the first year medical student ("citizens may not know...") who is only half of a year into training, you have no clue how it is to perform without sleep. I am sure that you are very bright indeed, but you are a neophyte, and being harsh on a poster is just unnecessary. The IOM should encourage regulations on what are known as "duty hours". As an attending physician who just completed residency 7 months ago, I can ensure you that working without sleep can be downright dangerous. At the very least, being "on call" you are expected to be available at all time for 30+ hours in a row. It can be difficult to take care of stable patients, much less very sick or dying ones. Your tirade sounds more like that of an "old timer" and I wonder very much if your parent or some other elder has brainwashed you into thinking the longer you work, the more you learn. Just wait until your first very bad call night. The next day, you'll find it is hard enough to try to remember if you finished the work you were supposed to do - much less hold on to any thing "learned".
Dear first year, I am sure you are 22 years old or younger. If you ever have a family, try these 80+ hour work weeks (the current limit now) with children or a spouse. Try to have a whole weekend off, or any two days in a row, during the whole of your residency training. And just wait until your residency, your fellowship, when all your friends who don't live and breath their jobs are getting married, having children, buying homes and taking wonderful trips around the world while you earn the equivalent of 7.50 an hour with a doctorate degree (residency wages stink). Unfortunately, it's a process that only seems to be understood by those experiencing it.
To the citizens out there: I am sure if the general public understood the severity of American medical training, they would be appalled. I love my job, but I hate my hours. I have lost ten years of my life stuck inside the walls of a school or hospital, sacrificed many friendships and celebrations with loved ones, only to finish and continue at breakneck speed just to break even with my income, my mortage, my property taxes, my med school loans. Who wants that? I agree with the posters "way beyond" and "after med school". Depression is rampant in medical school , and I am sure it is much higher in incidence that a study would report, as we docs don't often admit weakness. But it continues. Being a physician is a demanding life and often it ruins lives, breaks up marriages and isolates people from what used to help define them as individuals. And now that it is very tough to make the money back (which after ten years of sacrifice, I have a right to earn) the love for my job is not enough to make it worthwhile. And that is indeed why physicians will be in short numbers very soon.
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