Post-traumatic stress disorder in physicians from an underserviced area.
BACKGROUND
Studies suggest a high prevalence of mental illness in physicians. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been examined in physicians exposed to traumatic circumstances and physicians in training but never in physicians in regular practice.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of PTSD in physicians practicing in a predominantly rural and remote and medically underserviced region of Canada.


METHODS
The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) was mailed to all 331 physicians in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. A PCL-C score of >or=50 was used to define 'probable' PTSD and >or=30 defined 'possible' PTSD. Additional comments and demographic information were also requested.


RESULTS
Completed questionnaires were received from 159 physicians (48%). The prevalence of probable PTSD was 4.4%. No differences between demographic groups were observed for probable PTSD, but possible PTSD was more frequent in males than females (47.3% versus 20.4%, chi-square = 10.59, P = 0.001). Mean scores were also higher for males than for females (30.4 versus 25.4, 95% confidence interval for the difference: 1.4-8.5, P = 0.006). Respondents identified overwork, insufficient resources and relationships with colleagues and patients as common stressors.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest a high rate of PTSD in Northwestern Ontario physicians. The prevalence of possible PTSD and mean PCL-C scores are higher in men than in women in this region, which may relate to differences in practice characteristics and the opportunity for exposure to traumatic events.
Wilberforce
Nicola
N
Northern Ontario School of Medicine-West Campus, Lakehead Univeristy, 955 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada P7B 5E1. wilber@tbaytel.net
Wilberforce
Kevin
K
Aubrey-Bassler
F Kris
FK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult