Ethical Use of Student Profiles to Predict and Prevent Development of Depression Symptoms During Medical School

Research investigations have repeatedly shown that medical school can be a period of high stress and deteriorating mental health for many students. There is a critical need for systematic guidance on how to personalize prevention and treatment programming to help those students at highest risk. The authors of this Invited Commentary respond to the report by Dyrbye and colleagues, published in this issue of Academic Medicine, that proposes a prognostic index to predict risk of developing depression symptoms in medical students. The commentary authors applaud Dyrbye and her coauthors for their innovative approach; their findings provide substantial insights relevant to the critical goal of enhancing medical student well-being. However, evidence indicates that students who identify as members of racial, ethnic, sexual, and/or gender minority groups are at heightened risk of depression, so any program that profiles students in relation to their mental health symptoms must be proactive in ensuring that its efforts do not perpetuate stigma, marginalization, and discrimination for these underrepresented and potentially vulnerable groups. The commentary authors suggest practices for ethically implementing recommended wellness programs while maintaining an inclusive learning environment that respects personal privacy and incorporates transparent consent practices.