Mental Health Issues among Physicians in Saudi Arabia: A Scoping Review

Physicians in Saudi Arabia encounter significant occupational stressors that elevate their risk of mental health challenges.

This review maps research on the mental health of physicians in Saudi Arabia, identifies key themes and gaps, and contributes to understanding physician well-being. It aims to inform future research and targeted interventions to improve both physician well-being and healthcare quality.

This scoping review mapped literature (2000-2024) on the mental health of physicians in Saudi Arabia. Inclusion criteria were primary research studies (quantitative or mixed methods) on the mental health of physician (interns to consultants) in Saudi Arabia. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched. Thematic synthesis was performed.

Eighty-eight cross-sectional studies (sample size range: 55-1205; N ~11,000) revealed significant mental health challenges. Workplace bullying (70%, 95% CI: 65.2%-74.6%) and harassment (83.6%, 95% CI: 79.7%-87.0%) were prevalent. Psychiatric issues included high stress (>50%, 95% CI: varied according to study), depression (up to 75.8%, 95% CI: 70.2%-80.8% in residents), anxiety (up to 50%, 95% CI: 43.0%-57.0%), and sleep disturbances (up to 87%, 95% CI: 82.0%-91.1% in residents). Substance use (smoking 16%-47.7%) and self-prescription of psychotropics were observed. Adaptive coping (e.g., religion and planning) was common, while maladaptive coping (e.g., self-blame) was associated with higher stress, particularly in females. Job satisfaction varied, with lower satisfaction in intensive care and plastic surgery.

This review highlights significant, interconnected mental health challenges among physicians in Saudi Arabia, particularly in high-stress specialties and among female physicians. Targeted interventions and future research are needed to address work-related stress, improve coping, enhance institutional support, and promote physician well-being and healthcare quality.