Suicidal thoughts among medical residents with burnout.
OBJECTIVE
Recent research showed that medical residents have a high risk for developing burnout. The present study investigates the prevalence of burnout and its relationship with suicidal thoughts among medical residents.


METHODS
All Dutch medical residents (n = 5126) received a self-report questionnaire. Burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Residents were asked about the frequency of suicidal thoughts.


RESULTS
Response rate was 41.3% (n = 2115). 432 Residents (20.6%) were classified as burnout. 12% reported having suicidal thoughts at least 1 time during their residency, and 1% many times. Suicidal thoughts were substantially more prevalent in the group with burnout in comparison to non-burnout (20.5% vs. 7.6%; chi(2) = 182.9, p < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge about the relationship between burnout and suicidal thoughts among these young medical professionals could be important for suicide prevention.
van der Heijden
Frank
F
Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands. fvanderheijden@ggznml.nl
Dillingh
Gea
G
Bakker
Arnold
A
Prins
Jelle
J
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data