How can physician suicide be prevented?

1. Sargent DA, Jensen VW, Petty TA, Raskin H. Preventing physician suicide. The role of family, colleagues, and organized medicine. JAMA. 1977 Jan 10. 237 (2):143-5. [Medline]. [Full Text].

2. Gagné P, Moamai J, Bourget D. Psychopathology and suicide among Quebec physicians: a nested case control study. Depress Res Treat. 2011. 2011:936327. [Medline]. [Full Text].

3. Frank E, Dingle AD. Self-reported depression and suicide attempts among U.S. women physicians. Am J Psychiatry. 1999 Dec. 156(12):1887-94. [Medline].

4. Schernhammer ES, Colditz GA. Suicide rates among physicians: a quantitative and gender assessment (meta-analysis). Am J Psychiatry. 2004 Dec. 161(12):2295-302. [Medline].

5. Shaw DL, Wedding D, Zeldow PB. Suicide among medical students and physicians, special problems of medical students. Wedding D, ed. Behavior and Medicine. 3rd ed. Hogrefe and Huber: 2001. 78-9 (chap 6).

6. Goebert D, Thompson D, Takeshita J, Beach C, Bryson P, Ephgrave K, et al. Depressive symptoms in medical students and residents: a multischool study. Acad Med. 2009 Feb. 84 (2):236-41. [Medline].

7. Goldman ML, Shah RN, Bernstein CA. Depression and suicide among physician trainees: recommendations for a national response. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 May. 72 (5):411-2. [Medline]. [Full Text].

8. Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Shanafelt TD. Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students. Acad Med. 2006 Apr. 81 (4):354-73. [Medline].

9. Schwenk TL. Resident Depression: The Tip of a Graduate Medical Education Iceberg. JAMA. 2015 Dec 8. 314 (22):2357-8. [Medline].

10. National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students. http://www.beyondblue.org.au. Available at http://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/bl1132-report---nmhdmss-full-report_web.pdf?sfvrsn=2. Accessed: Could not access.

11. Sobowale K, Zhou N, Fan J, Liu N, Sherer R. Depression and suicidal ideation in medical students in China: a call for wellness curricula. Int J Med Educ. 2014 Feb 15. 5:31-6. [Medline].

12. Hope V, Henderson M. Medical student depression, anxiety and distress outside North America: a systematic review. Med Educ. 2014 Oct. 48 (10):963-79. [Medline].

13. Cuttilan AN, Sayampanathan AA, Ho RC. Mental health issues amongst medical students in Asia: a systematic review [2000-2015]. Ann Transl Med. 2016 Feb. 4 (4):72. [Medline]. [Full Text].

14. Adams D. Physician suicide: searching for answers. American Medical News [serial online]. April 25, 2005. Available at http://www.amednews.com/article/20050425/profession/304259964/4/.

15. Center C, Davis M, Detre T, et al. Confronting depression and suicide in physicians: a consensus statement. JAMA. 2003 Jun 18. 289(23):3161-6. [Medline].

16. Hawton K, Malmberg A, Simkin S. Suicide in doctors. A psychological autopsy study. J Psychosom Res. 2004 Jul. 57(1):1-4. [Medline].

17. Holmes VF, Rich CL. Suicide Among Physicians. Blumenthal SJ, Kupfer DJ, eds. Suicide Over the Life Cycle. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press; 2004. 599-618.

18. Middleton JL. Today I'm grieving a physician suicide. Ann Fam Med. 2008 May-Jun. 6(3):267-9. [Medline].

19. Noonan D. Doctors who kill themselves. Newsweek. 2008 Apr 28. 151(17):16. [Medline].

20. Petersen MR, Burnett CA. The suicide mortality of working physicians and dentists. Occup Med (Lond). 2008 Jan. 58(1):25-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].

21. Worley LL. Our fallen peers: a mandate for change. Acad Psychiatry. 2008 Jan-Feb. 32(1):8-12. [Medline].

22. Austin AE, van den Heuvel C, Byard RW. Physician suicide. J Forensic Sci. 2013 Jan. 58 Suppl 1:S91-3. [Medline].

23. Gold KJ, Sen A, Schwenk TL. Details on suicide among US physicians: data from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2013 Jan-Feb. 35 (1):45-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].

24. Shanafelt TD, Balch CM, Dyrbye L, Bechamps G, Russell T, Satele D, et al. Special report: suicidal ideation among American surgeons. Arch Surg. 2011 Jan. 146(1):54-62. [Medline].

25. Gold, KJ, et al. “I would never want to have a mental health diagnosis on my record”: A survey of female physicians on mental health diagnosis, treatment, and reporting". General Hospital Psychiatry. Nov- Dec 2016. 43:51-57. [Full Text].

26. Gross CP, Mead LA, Ford DE, et al. Physician, heal thyself? Regular source of care and use of preventive health services among physicians. Arch Intern Med. 2000 Nov 27. 160(21):3209-14. [Medline].

27. Myers M, Fine C. Suicide in physicians: toward prevention. MedGenMed. 2003 Oct 21. 5(4):11. [Medline].

28. Aaron Carroll. Silence is the Enemy for Doctors who have Depression. Upshots. 12 Jan 2016. Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/upshot/silence-is-the-enemy-for-doctors-who-have-depression.html?_r=1&mtrref=undefined&gwh=DC2160122619A354881C74E45FACD1E9&gwt=pay.

29. Myers M. Doctors' Marriages: A Look at the Problems and Their Solutions. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 1994.

30. Charles SC, Frisch PR. Adverse Events, Stress, and Litigation: A Physician's Guide. New York: Oxford University Press; 2005.

31. Balch CM, Oreskovich MR, Dyrbye LN, et al. Personal consequences of malpractice lawsuits on American surgeons. J Am Coll Surg. 2011 Nov. 213(5):657-67. [Medline].

32. Sessions S. Dr. Ticktin and the Expert Witness Industry. 2005. [Full Text].

33. Lindeman S, Läärä E, Lönnqvist J. Medical surveillance often precedes suicide among female physicians in Finland. A case-control study. J Occup Environ Med. 1997 Nov. 39(11):1115-7. [Medline].

34. Bourne T, Wynants L, Peters M, Van Audenhove C, Timmerman D, Van Calster B, et al. The impact of complaints procedures on the welfare, health and clinical practise of 7926 doctors in the UK: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2015 Jan 15. 5 (1):e006687. [Medline]. [Full Text].

35. Stanton Peele, MD. In the Belly of the ASAM Addictions Beast. Stanton Peele Addiction Website. Available at http://www.peele.net/lib/talbott.html. 12 Mar 2000; Accessed: 28 May 2016.

36. Myers M, Gabbard G. The Physician as Patient: A Clinical Handbook for Mental Health Professionals. American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008.

37. Lehmann C. Aggressive Intervention Urged for Depression in Physicians. Psychiatric News. November 17, 2000.

38. Schwenk TL, Gorenflo DW, Leja LM. A survey on the impact of being depressed on the professional status and mental health care of physicians. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Apr. 69(4):617-20. [Medline].

39. Andrew, LB. Don't Hold it Against Me. Emergency Physicians Monthly. May 6, 2016. Available at http://epmonthly.com/article/dont-hold-it-against-me/.

40. Miles SH. A piece of my mind. A challenge to licensing boards: the stigma of mental illness. JAMA. 1998 Sep 9. 280(10):865. [Medline].

41. Hendin H, Maltsberger JT, Haas AP. A physician's suicide. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Dec. 160(12):2094-7. [Medline].

42. Hendin H, Reynolds C, Fox D, et al. Licensing and Physician Mental Health: Problems and Possibilities. Journal of Medical Licensure and Discipline. 2007. 93:6-11.

43. Lenzer, Jeanne M. Physician Health Programs Under Fire. BMJ 2016. i3568. 353:[Full Text].

44. Amicus Curiae Brief, Department of Justice, in Medical Society of New Jersey v Jacobs U.S.D. 1993.

45. Andrew, LB. "Don't Hold it Against Me" Break Point Special Report. Emergency Physicians Monthly. May 6, 2016. Available at http://epmonthly.com/article/dont-hold-it-against-me/.

46. Polfliet SR. A National Analysis of Medical Licensure Applications. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2008. 36:369-74. [Full Text].

47. Altchuler SI. Commentary: Granting medical licensure, honoring the Americans with disabilities act, and protecting the public: can we do all three?. Acad Med. 2009 Jun. 84(6):689-91. [Medline]. [Full Text].

48. Schroeder R, Brazeau CM, Zackin F, Rovi S, Dickey J, Johnson MS, et al. Do state medical board applications violate the Americans With Disabilities Act?. Acad Med. 2009 Jun. 84(6):776-81. [Medline]. [Full Text].

49. Andrew, LB. Are PHPs Still in Our Corner?. Emergency Physicians Monthly. May 6 2016. Available at http://epmonthly.com/article/phps-still-corner/.

50. Gold, KJ, Unpublished Data via personal communication. 2013.

51. Andrew LB. Survey Says: Many EPs Suffer in Silence. Emergency Physicians Monthly Online. March 2006. 13:3:1-7. [Full Text].

52. Puthran R, Zhang MW, Tam WW, Ho RC. Prevalence of depression amongst medical students: a meta-analysis. Med Educ. 2016 Apr. 50 (4):456-68. [Medline].

53. Fahrenkopf AM, Sectish TC, Barger LK, et al. Rates of medication errors among depressed and burnt out residents: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2008 Mar 1. 336(7642):488-91. [Medline]. [Full Text].

54. West CP, Tan AD, Habermann TM, Sloan JA, Shanafelt TD. Association of resident fatigue and distress with perceived medical errors. JAMA. 2009 Sep 23. 302(12):1294-300. [Medline].

55. Dyrbye LN, Eacker A, Durning SJ, Brazeau C, Moutier C, Massie FS, et al. The Impact of Stigma and Personal Experiences on the Help-Seeking Behaviors of Medical Students With Burnout. Acad Med. 2015 Jul. 90 (7):961-9. [Medline].

56. Frank E, Carrera JS, Stratton T, Bickel J, Nora LM. Experiences of belittlement and harassment and their correlates among medical students in the United States: longitudinal survey. BMJ. 2006 Sep 30. 333(7570):682. [Medline]. [Full Text].

57. Moutier C, Norcross W, Jong P, et al. The Suicide Prevention and Depression Awareness Program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Acad Med. 2012 Mar. 87(3):320-6. [Medline].

58. Moutier C, Norcross W, Jong P, Norman M, Kirby B, McGuire T, et al. The suicide prevention and depression awareness program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Acad Med. 2012 Mar. 87 (3):320-6. [Medline].

59. Downs N, Feng W, Kirby B, McGuire T, Moutier C, Norcross W, et al. Listening to depression and suicide risk in medical students: the Healer Education Assessment and Referral (HEAR) Program. Acad Psychiatry. 2014 Oct. 38 (5):547-53. [Medline].

60. Guille C, Zhao Z, Krystal J, Nichols B, Brady K, Sen S. Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for the Prevention of Suicidal Ideation in Medical Interns: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 Dec. 72 (12):1192-8. [Medline]. [Full Text].

61. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention video "Struggling in Silence". Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Sz-3GnvGI. October 1, 2016;

62. Goldsmith SK, Pellmar TC, Kleinman AM. Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative. Institute of Medicine Monograph. National Academies Press; 2002. [Full Text].

63. Andrew LB. PHPs Are in Your Corner. Emergency Physician Monthly Online. 2006. 13:6:[Full Text].

64. Amarasuriya SD, Jorm AF, Reavley NJ. Perceptions and intentions relating to seeking help for depression among medical undergraduates in Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional comparison with non-medical undergraduates. BMC Med Educ. 2015 Sep 29. 15:162. [Medline].

65. Mata DA, Ramos MA, Bansal N, Khan R, Guille C, Di Angelantonio E, et al. Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms Among Resident Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015 Dec 8. 314 (22):2373-83. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Louise B Andrew, MD, JD Medical-Legal, Risk Management and Trial Consultant, Litigation Stress Counselor

Louise B Andrew, MD, JD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Women Emergency Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine, Program Director for Emergency Medicine, Sanz Laniado Medical Center, Netanya, Israel

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Thoracic Society, New York Academy of Medicine, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert Harwood, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAEM Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

Robert Harwood, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Dana A Stearns, MD Assistant Director of Undergraduate Education, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dana A Stearns, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

• Print this section
• Print the entire contents of
• Print the entire contents of article