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Psychological Distress Among Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Professionals: A Systematic Review
Kavitha Swaminathan1, Subbalekshmi T2, Tanu Nangia3
1Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, IND.
Cureus
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) professionals experience high psychological distress. Workload and academic pressure contribute to stress and burnout risk, necessitating targeted interventions for workforce well-being.
Area of Science:
- Medical Specialties
- Surgical Training
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Psychological distress is a growing concern in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS).
- The demanding nature of OMFS training and clinical practice contributes to mental health challenges.
- Evidence synthesis is needed to understand stress and distress in OMFS professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on perceived stress and psychological distress among OMFS surgeons, residents, and trainees.
- To identify factors associated with psychological distress in the OMFS workforce.
- To inform interventions for improving mental health in OMFS.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
- Inclusion of six cross-sectional studies with 1,149 OMFS participants.
- Narrative synthesis of findings using Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) principles due to heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- A high burden of psychological distress was consistently observed across studies.
- Moderate-to-severe anxiety affected a substantial proportion of trainees; nearly half of surgeons were at risk of burnout.
- Residents reported higher stress than practicing surgeons, with workload and academic pressure as key contributors.
Conclusions:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery professionals face significant psychological distress.
- Occupational demands, including workload and academic pressure, are linked to reduced well-being.
- Standardized assessment and targeted interventions are crucial for OMFS mental health and workforce sustainability.
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