title: Self-treatment and informal treatment for depression among resident physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is awareness of depression in resident physicians, yet limited information on self-treatment or informal treatment behaviors for depression. This study sought to identify the prevalence of moderate to severe depression, self-treatment, and informal treatment for depression in resident physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 704 residents at the University of Utah were sent a survey on depression in the fall of 2009, with a response rate of 36.9% (260).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate to severe depression was present in 17.7% (46/260) of residents. Only 1.2% (3/254) of all residents had prescribed their own antidepressant medication, and just 0.8% (2/257) of residents had self-treated for depression with samples from their clinic. Regarding informal prescribing, 5.9% (15/256) of residents had received prescription antidepressants from another provider without a formal clinical consultation or appointment, and 3.1% (8/254) of residents had informally prescribed antidepressant medications to another resident colleague. Merely 26.7% (12/45) of residents with moderate to severe depression scores were currently receiving treatment for depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate to severe depression in resident physicians is common and undertreated. Self-treatment behaviors of self-prescribing and use of clinical samples have a low prevalence but are present. Similarly, informally obtaining prescription antidepressants and informally prescribing antidepressants to other residents exist at a low rate.
authors: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah.
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Stoesser
authors: Nadia Miniclier
authors: NM
authors: Cobb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014589:Utah
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents