On-call-related sleep deprivation and hypomania in healthcare workers

Acute sleep deprivation can induce antidepressant effects. We hypothesized that overnight calls can trigger symptoms of hypomania during the post-on-call period.

Online anonymous cross-sectional survey among Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals, including the Hypomania Symptom Checklist-32 (HCL-32).

2099 respondents. Most of them reported that they usually feel worse on their post-on-call period (91,3%), but the 51,6% acknowledged having felt better at least once and 33,4% reported it happened in at least at 50% of their calls. Up to 4,9% reached the cut-off at HCL-32. Males, younger professionals, those with less years of practice and residents were more likely to full fit hypomania criteria. Participants and their environment correctly identified the symptoms and their negative consequences.

On-calls with sleep deprivation may trigger hypomanic symptoms with reported negative consequences among healthcare professionals, showing how working conditions' impact in professionals' wellbeing and raising concerns about decision-making performance after long-lasting working shifts.