Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms Among Resident Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- PMID:26647259
- PMCID: PMC4866499
- DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.15845
Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms Among Resident Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Abstract
Importance: Physicians in training are at high risk for depression. However, the estimated prevalence of this disorder varies substantially between studies.
Objective: To provide a summary estimate of depression or depressive symptom prevalence among resident physicians.
Data sources and study selection: Systematic search of EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO for studies with information on the prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms among resident physicians published between January 1963 and September 2015. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were published in the peer-reviewed literature and used a validated method to assess for depression or depressive symptoms.
Data extraction and synthesis: Information on study characteristics and depression or depressive symptom prevalence was extracted independently by 2 trained investigators. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Differences by study-level characteristics were estimated using meta-regression.
Main outcomes and measures: Point or period prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms as assessed by structured interview or validated questionnaire.
Results: Data were extracted from 31 cross-sectional studies (9447 individuals) and 23 longitudinal studies (8113 individuals). Three studies used clinical interviews and 51 used self-report instruments. The overall pooled prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms was 28.8% (4969/17,560 individuals, 95% CI, 25.3%-32.5%), with high between-study heterogeneity (Q = 1247, τ2 = 0.39, I2 = 95.8%, P < .001). Prevalence estimates ranged from 20.9% for the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire with a cutoff of 10 or more (741/3577 individuals, 95% CI, 17.5%-24.7%, Q = 14.4, τ2 = 0.04, I2 = 79.2%) to 43.2% for the 2-item PRIME-MD (1349/2891 individuals, 95% CI, 37.6%-49.0%, Q = 45.6, τ2 = 0.09, I2 = 84.6%). There was an increased prevalence with increasing calendar year (slope = 0.5% increase per year, adjusted for assessment modality; 95% CI, 0.03%-0.9%, P = .04). In a secondary analysis of 7 longitudinal studies, the median absolute increase in depressive symptoms with the onset of residency training was 15.8% (range, 0.3%-26.3%; relative risk, 4.5). No statistically significant differences were observed between cross-sectional vs longitudinal studies, studies of only interns vs only upper-level residents, or studies of nonsurgical vs both nonsurgical and surgical residents.
Conclusions and relevance: In this systematic review, the summary estimate of the prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms among resident physicians was 28.8%, ranging from 20.9% to 43.2% depending on the instrument used, and increased with calendar year. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for preventing and treating depression among physicians in training.
Figures





Comment in
- Resident Depression: The Tip of a Graduate Medical Education Iceberg.Schwenk TL.Schwenk TL.JAMA. 2015 Dec 8;314(22):2357-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.15408.JAMA. 2015.PMID:26647255No abstract available.
- High prevalence of depression in medical residents: the sad reality of medical training.Schipper S.Schipper S.Evid Based Med. 2016 Jun;21(3):118. doi: 10.1136/ebmed-2016-110381. Epub 2016 Mar 3.Evid Based Med. 2016.PMID:26940711No abstract available.
- Resident Physicians With Depression or Depressive Symptoms.Levis B, Azar M, Thombs BD.Levis B, et al.JAMA. 2016 Jun 7;315(21):2347. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.1716.JAMA. 2016.PMID:27272588No abstract available.
- Resident Physicians With Depression or Depressive Symptoms--In Reply.Mata DA, Ramos MA, Sen S.Mata DA, et al.JAMA. 2016 Jun 7;315(21):2347-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.1724.JAMA. 2016.PMID:27272589No abstract available.
Similar articles
- Prevalence of Depression, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Rotenstein LS, Ramos MA, Torre M, Segal JB, Peluso MJ, Guille C, Sen S, Mata DA.Rotenstein LS, et al.JAMA. 2016 Dec 6;316(21):2214-2236. doi: 10.1001/jama.2016.17324.JAMA. 2016.PMID:27923088Free PMC article.Review.
- Association Between Physician Depressive Symptoms and Medical Errors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Pereira-Lima K, Mata DA, Loureiro SR, Crippa JA, Bolsoni LM, Sen S.Pereira-Lima K, et al.JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Nov 1;2(11):e1916097. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16097.JAMA Netw Open. 2019.PMID:31774520Free PMC article.
- Prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms among outpatients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Wang J, Wu X, Lai W, Long E, Zhang X, Li W, Zhu Y, Chen C, Zhong X, Liu Z, Wang D, Lin H.Wang J, et al.BMJ Open. 2017 Aug 23;7(8):e017173. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017173.BMJ Open. 2017.PMID:28838903Free PMC article.Review.
- Prevalence of Depression in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Ismail Z, Elbayoumi H, Fischer CE, Hogan DB, Millikin CP, Schweizer T, Mortby ME, Smith EE, Patten SB, Fiest KM.Ismail Z, et al.JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 Jan 1;74(1):58-67. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.3162.JAMA Psychiatry. 2017.PMID:27893026Review.
- Prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents in secondary school in mainland China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Tang X, Tang S, Ren Z, Wong DFK.Tang X, et al.J Affect Disord. 2019 Feb 15;245:498-507. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.11.043. Epub 2018 Nov 5.J Affect Disord. 2019.PMID:30439677
Cited by
- In Their Own Words: An Analysis of the Experiences of Medical Interns Participating in a Prospective Cohort Study of Depression.Mata DA, Ramos MA, Kim MM, Guille C, Sen S.Mata DA, et al.Acad Med. 2016 Sep;91(9):1244-50. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001227.Acad Med. 2016.PMID:27166863Free PMC article.
- Using machine learning with intensive longitudinal data to predict depression and suicidal ideation among medical interns over time.Horwitz AG, Kentopp SD, Cleary J, Ross K, Wu Z, Sen S, Czyz EK.Horwitz AG, et al.Psychol Med. 2023 Sep;53(12):5778-5785. doi: 10.1017/S0033291722003014. Epub 2022 Sep 30.Psychol Med. 2023.PMID:36177889Free PMC article.
- Narrative Medicine: The Power of Shared Stories to Enhance Inclusive Clinical Care, Clinician Well-Being, and Medical Education.Loy M, Kowalsky R.Loy M, et al.Perm J. 2024 Jun 14;28(2):93-101. doi: 10.7812/TPP/23.116. Epub 2024 Jan 16.Perm J. 2024.PMID:38225914Free PMC article.Review.
- Effect of 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic on Ophthalmologists Practicing in Saudi Arabia: A Psychological Health Assessment.Almater AI, Tobaigy MF, Younis AS, Alaqeel MK, Abouammoh MA.Almater AI, et al.Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2020 Jul 20;27(2):79-85. doi: 10.4103/meajo.MEAJO_220_20. eCollection 2020 Apr-Jun.Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2020.PMID:32874039Free PMC article.
- The Impact of COVID-19 on the Sports Medicine Fellowship Class of 2020.Perrone MA, Youssefzadeh K, Serrano B, Limpisvasti O, Banffy M.Perrone MA, et al.Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 Jul 17;8(7):2325967120939901. doi: 10.1177/2325967120939901. eCollection 2020 Jul.Orthop J Sports Med. 2020.PMID:32874996Free PMC article.
References
- Schneider SE, Phillips WM. Depression and anxiety in medical, surgical, and pediatric interns. Psychol Rep. 1993;72(3 pt 2):1145–1146. - PubMed
- Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Merikangas KR, Walters EE. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(6):593–602. - PubMed
- Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Shanafelt TD. Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among US and Canadian medical students. Acad Med. 2006;81(4):354–373. - PubMed
- Joules N, Williams DM, Thompson AW. Depression in resident physicians: a systematic review. Open J Depress. 2014;03(03):89–100.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Related information
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical