title: Help-seeking for mental health problems among young physicians: is it the most ill that seeks help? - A longitudinal and nationwide study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of self-reported mental health problems and help-seeking among young physicians, and identify predictors of seeking help.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort sample of Norwegian medical students (N = 631) were assessed in their final semester (T1), and in the first (T2) and fourth (T3) postgraduate year. The average observation period was 3.6 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of mental health problems that needed treatment over the preceding year was observed to have increased from 11% at T2 to 17% at T3. There was no increase in help-seeking. Longitudinally, 34% reported that they needed treatment on one or several occasions. Adjusted predictors of help-seeking were perceived level of mental health problems and a reality weakness personality trait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Those who sought help had higher levels of emotional distress than those who did not. However, higher reality weakness scores predicted lower help-seeking and, therefore, may be a risk factor for avoiding necessary care.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Sognsvannsveien 9, PO Box 1111, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway. tyssen@basalmed.uio.no
authors.forename: Reidar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tyssen
authors.forename: Jan Ole
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Røvik
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaglum
authors.forename: Nina T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Grønvold
authors.forename: Oivind
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekeberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009664:Norway; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010815:Physician Impairment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data