title: Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and related risk factors among physicians in China: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physicians' poor mental health not only hinders their professional performance and affects the quality of healthcare provided but also adversely affects patients' health outcomes. Few studies in China have evaluated the mental health of physicians. The purposes of this study are to quantify Chinese physicians' anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as evaluate associated risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, 2641 physicians working in public hospitals in Shenzhen in southern China were recruited and interviewed by using a structured questionnaire along with validated scales testing anxiety and depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for anxiety and depressive symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated 25.67% of physicians had anxiety symptoms, 28.13% had depressive symptoms, and 19.01% had both anxiety and depressive symptoms. More than 10% of the participants often experienced workplace violence and 63.17% sometimes encountered it. Among our study population, anxiety and depressive symptoms were associated with poor self-reported physical health, frequent workplace violence, lengthy working hours (more than 60 hours a week), frequent night shifts (twice or more per week), and lack of regular physical exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates that anxiety and depressive symptoms are common among physicians in China, and the doctor-patient relationship issue is particularly stressful. Interventions implemented to minimize workload, improve doctor-patient relationships, and assist physicians in developing healthier lifestyles are essential to combat anxiety and depressive symptoms among physicians, which may improve their professional performance.
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
authors: Yanhong
authors: Y
authors: Gong
authors: Shenzhen Health Education and Promotion Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors: Tieguang
authors: T
authors: Han
authors: Department of Occupational Health, Laiwu Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Laiwu, Shandong, P. R. China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Chen
authors: National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors: Hassan H
authors: HH
authors: Dib
authors: Shenzhen Health Education and Promotion Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors: Guoan
authors: G
authors: Yang
authors: Shenzhen Health Education and Promotion Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors: Runsen
authors: R
authors: Zhuang
authors: Shenzhen Health Education and Promotion Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P. R. China.
authors: Yuqi
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
authors: Xinyue
authors: X
authors: Tong
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
authors: Xiaoxv
authors: X
authors: Yin
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
authors: Zuxun
authors: Z
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000150:complications; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires