Survey of Physician Well-Being and Health Behaviors at an Academic Medical Center

The study aims were to ascertain, among attending and house staff at a single academic medical center, the prevalence of and risk factors for psychiatric symptoms and disorders and for personal health behaviors.

A self-administered, anonymous 72-item survey of physicians was conducted in February 2003.

Response rate was 37.6%. The prevalence of current depressive symptoms was 29%. AUDIT scores consistent with high likelihood of harmful alcohol consumption were prevalent in 6%. Almost 5% acknowledged use of sedatives or hypnotics without a prescription in the prior 12 months. Characteristics independently associated with current depressive symptoms included: living alone, full time salaried faculty status, not having a primary care physician, female sex, and age < 50 years. Factors associated with high risk of harmful alcohol consumption included: male sex, house staff status, and not being exclusively heterosexual.

The prevalence of recent depressive symptoms among responding physicians was nearly 30%. Interventions to engage physicians in primary care relationships and social support to confidentially disclose potentially stigmatizing characteristics may facilitate earlier case finding of those at risk for depression, suicide, and substance abuse.