Anxiety and depression in young physicians: Prevalence and associated factors. The MESSIAEN national study

Abstract

Background: Physicians are at risk of anxiety and depression.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in a national sample of young physicians and their associated factors.

Methods: The study is a cross-sectional observational epidemiological national study. An online anonymous questionnaire was administered to the young physicians of all French medical faculties. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety & Depression scale subscores for anxiety and depression. Psychotropic drug consumption, psychotherapy follow-up and other variables were self-declared.

Results: Of the 2003 study participants, 32.3% reported a current anxiety disorder and 8.7% a current major depressive disorder according to their HAD scores and less than one on five of them was followed-up in psychotherapy or treated by antidepressant. Moral harassment, a bad quality of initial formation regarding dealing with disease and alcohol consumption were all associated with respectively anxiety disorder and major depression in multivariate analyses. Medical vocation was specifically associated with decreased major depression while being woman and increased coffee consumption were specifically associated with increased anxiety disorders.

Conclusion: Almost one third of medical students reported anxiety disorder or major depression and less than one on five received the recommended treatment (psychotherapy or antidepressant). The prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders should be improved in this population. Moral harassment exposure, alcohol and coffee consumptions, bad quality of initial formation regarding dealing with disease have been identified as modifiable factors associated with poor mental health. Despite the absence of causal associations, these results yield some clues to guide future mental health prevention strategies in this population.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Medical students; Mental health; Psychiatry.