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The prevalence and risk factors for major depression and suicidal ideation in medical residents based on a large multi-center cross-sectional study using the propensity score-matched method

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

We determined the prevalence of major depression and suicidal ideation, and the associated risk factors in a large sample of Chinese resident physicians.

Methods

This multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to February 2020 and involved 1343 residents from eight centers. Extensive characteristics, including demographics, dietary habits, life-related factors, work-related factors, and psychological factors were collected based on a self-reported questionnaire. Specific scales measured the levels of sleep quality, physical activity, depression, perceived organization support, psychological capital, and burnout. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were determined by binary paired logistic regression.

Results

Of the residents enrolled in the study, 12.90% suffered from major depression and 9.70% suffered from suicidal ideation. Four overlapped independent risk factors were identified for major depression and suicidal ideation: poor sleep quality (OR = 1.317, OR = 1.200); lower optimism of psychological capital (OR = 0.899, OR = 0.835); higher depersonalization, (OR = 1.086, OR = 1.097); and reduced personal accomplishment (OR = 0.963, OR = 0.962). The inappropriate working duration weekly (< 40 h vs. 40–60 h; OR = 2.812, > 60 h vs. 40–60 h; OR = 1.945), and higher emotional exhaustion (OR = 1.121) were the only risk factors for major depression. Higher hope of psychological capital (OR = 1.077) was only for suicidal ideation.

Conclusion

This study revealed a substantial prevalence of major depression and suicidal ideation in Chinese residents, and identified several shared risk factors for major depression and suicidal ideation. These findings enrich the existing theoretical model of depression and demonstrated a critical need for additional studies that investigate intervention strategies that can address the mental health in residents.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900027707. Registered 24 Nov. 2019, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx

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Acknowledgements

We thank International Science Editing (http://www.internationalscienceediting.com) for editing this manuscript. The authors would like to thank all of the study participants.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Number 2017YFC0907404) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number 71473268). These sponsors had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, San Hao Street, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning, China

    Song Bai, Yixiao Zhang, Bin Wu & Liping Shan

  2. Department of Graduate Medical Education, Health Service Center of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China

    Qing Chang & Da Yao

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  1. Song Bai
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  2. Qing Chang
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  4. Yixiao Zhang
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  5. Bin Wu
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  6. Liping Shan
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Contributions

LS had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: LS. Acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data: SB; QC; DY; YZ. Drafting of the manuscript and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: SB, LS. Statistical analysis: SB, DY; YZ. Obtaining funding and other (figures): LS.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liping Shan.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Financial disclosures

Liping Shan certifies that all conflicts of interest, including specific financial interests, relationships and affiliations relevant to the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript (eg, employment/affiliation, grants or funding, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, royalties, or patents filed, received, or pending) are none.

Ethical statement

Ethical approval (No. 2019PS647K) was provided by the Institutional Research and Ethics Committee of the Shengjing Hospital Affiliated China Medical University. All centers were in accordance with this ethical standards. Informed consent from all eligible subjects were obtained. The clinical research registry UIN is ChiCTR1900027707. The study protocol conformed to the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki.

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Bai, S., Chang, Q., Yao, D. et al. The prevalence and risk factors for major depression and suicidal ideation in medical residents based on a large multi-center cross-sectional study using the propensity score-matched method. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 57, 2279–2291 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02351-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-022-02351-6

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