title: Prevalence and predictors of depression among general surgery residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent resident suicides have highlighted the need to address depression among medical trainees. This study sought to identify the prevalence and predictors of depression among surgical residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical residents at a single institution were surveyed. Depression and personal traits were assessed using validated measures; participant demographics were also obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  73 residents completed the survey (response rate 63%). 36% met criteria for at least mild depression, of which 20% met criteria for moderate to severe depression. In multivariate linear regression analyses controlling for demographic factors, trait emotional intelligence alone was a significant inverse predictor of depression (β = -0.60, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is prevalent among general surgery residents. Identifying protective factors and at-risk populations may allow for effective initiatives to be developed to address depression, and optimize the mental health of trainees.
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. Electronic address: danalin@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Dana T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Cara A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Liebert
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Micaela M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Goodman Surgical Education Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive H3552A, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Arghavan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Depression; Emotional intelligence; Mental health; Resident education; Well-being