About 90% of physicians report experiencing some type of depression, according to a Jan. 24 Medscape report.
The "Physician Burnout and Depression Report 2024" surveyed 9,226 physicians across 29 specialties between July 5 and Oct. 9.
The report found 27% of physicians report experience clinical depression and 63% experience colloquial depression.
Of the surveyed physicians, 57% said they do not confide in other physicians about their depression. The top reasons physicians gave for not telling anyone were fear of people doubting their abilities as a physician (44%), their medical board or employer finding out (42%) and it making a negative statement about them personally (40%).
Here are the top factors that physicians said contributed to their depression:
Job burnout: 72%
Physician's responsibilities: 44%
Finances: 31%
World events: 31%
Family issues: 24%
My insecurity: 19%
Health: 14%
Romantic relationships: 14%
My personality: 14%
Other: 7%