Wang Jennifer, Fitzke Reagan E, Tran Denise D, Grell Jewel, Pedersen Eric R
Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
J Med Access. 2023 Jan 15;7:27550834221147787. doi: 10.1177/27550834221147787. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.
Healthcare professionals can experience problems regarding mental health and emotional well-being (e.g. burnout) at a higher degree compared to their non-physician counterparts. Fear of stigma is often a barrier to seeking treatment among physicians. However, there is a shortage of studies related to mental health and treatment seeking among trainees and medical students.
This study sought to examine mental health in U.S. medical students, factors contributing to mental health symptoms, and obstacles to seeking treatment.
This cross-sectional study was conducted through a confidential survey sent out in fall 2021, with 510 U.S. medical student participants. This survey included scales to assess depression (the Patient Health Questionnaire-8), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), past year symptoms of hazardous drinking (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), and past 30-day binge drinking days. The survey also included free-response questions about their reasons for seeking mental health care if they did (facilitators) and any barriers that kept them from seeking treatment.
About one-quarter of participants met criteria for possible depressive (24%) or anxiety disorders (24%); 9% of the sample drank at hazardous drinking levels. Between 47% and 60% of those who screened positive for depression, anxiety, or hazardous drinking reported an unmet need for mental health services. Anxiety and depression were cited as the most common reasons to seek treatment; concerns about stigma from peers and professional retaliation were notable for being barriers to treatment.
Our sample of medical students reported notable prevalence of probable depression or anxiety disorder, while also reporting needing more support to improve their mental health. Despite this, barriers exist that may discourage medical students from seeking needed treatments. Findings from this study aim to encourage discussion and positive change in the healthcare community regarding perception and attitudes toward mental health and substance use treatment.
与非医生同行相比，医疗保健专业人员在心理健康和情绪健康方面（如职业倦怠）可能会面临更严重的问题。对污名化的恐惧往往是医生寻求治疗的障碍。然而，关于实习生和医学生心理健康及寻求治疗的研究却很匮乏。
本研究旨在调查美国医学生的心理健康状况、导致心理健康症状的因素以及寻求治疗的障碍。
这项横断面研究通过2021年秋季发放的一份保密调查问卷进行，共有510名美国医学生参与。该调查问卷包括用于评估抑郁（患者健康问卷-8）、焦虑（广泛性焦虑障碍-7）、过去一年危险饮酒症状（酒精使用障碍识别测试）以及过去30天暴饮天数的量表。调查问卷还包括一些自由回答问题，询问他们如果寻求过心理健康护理的话，寻求护理的原因（促进因素）以及阻止他们寻求治疗的任何障碍。
约四分之一的参与者符合可能患有抑郁症（24%）或焦虑症（24%）的标准；9%的样本饮酒量达到危险水平。在抑郁、焦虑或危险饮酒筛查呈阳性的人群中，有47%至60%的人表示心理健康服务需求未得到满足。焦虑和抑郁被认为是寻求治疗的最常见原因；对来自同伴的污名化和职业报复的担忧是显著的治疗障碍。
我们的医学生样本显示，可能患有抑郁症或焦虑症的比例相当高，同时也表示需要更多支持来改善他们的心理健康。尽管如此，仍存在一些障碍可能会阻碍医学生寻求所需的治疗。本研究结果旨在鼓励医疗保健界就对心理健康和物质使用治疗的认知及态度展开讨论并积极变革。
