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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018
| Contributor Information
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Burnout continues to be a pervasive issue among physicians. This part of Medscape's annual Physician Lifestyle Report focuses on their responses to our survey questions about burnout and depression. How prevalent are these factors, and how do they affect physicians' lives? More than 15,000 physicians from 29 specialties responded.
Some totals in this presentation do not equal 100% due to rounding.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Psychiatrists fell near the middle among physicians Medscape surveyed who reported that they are "very" or "extremely" happy outside of work; 51% of psychiatrists described themselves as such.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
While fairly small percentages of all physician groups described themselves as "very" or "extremely" happy at work, psychiatrists (33%) were among the most likely to do so. Ophthalmologists, plastic surgeons, and pathologists were also among the happiest physicians at work this year.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Forty-six percent of all physicians surveyed said they are either burned out, depressed, or both. At 38%, psychiatrists fell toward the bottom among them. The highest rates were reported by neurologists, intensivists, ob/gyns, and family physicians.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
In this year's report, as in prior years', a higher percentage of female psychiatrists reported burnout (39%) than did their male peers (32%).
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Survey participants could choose multiple responses to the question of how they personally cope with burnout. More than half of psychiatrist respondents said they talk to family or close friends (58%) or exercise (51%). Although nearly one quarter (24%) turn to alcohol, far lower percentages (7% or less) said they use prescription drugs, nicotine, or marijuana.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Psychiatrists who reported burnout could select more than one contributing factor. Well over half (60%) pointed to an excess of bureaucratic tasks, and just over one third (34%) selected too many hours at work.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Not surprisingly, psychiatrists, at 40%, were among the most likely of all respondents to report that they would seek professional help for burnout, depression, or both. Plastic surgeons, public health physicians, and pediatricians were also among those most likely to respond affirmatively.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Psychiatrists were asked to grade their own introversion or extroversion on a scale of 1 (very introverted) to 7 (very extroverted). A slightly higher percentage identified as introverted (15% responded 1 or 2) versus extroverted (11% responded 6 or 7).
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
The highest percentages of psychiatrists who acknowledged having depression said in response to this question that they are less engaged (42%), less friendly (31%), or more easily exasperated (31%) with staff or peers as a result. Less than one quarter (23%) responded that their depression has no such effect.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Among psychiatrists who reported depression, 35% believe that their depression has no effect on patient care. However, 35% also acknowledged that because of their depression, they are less engaged with patients. Twenty-one percent admitted that their depression leads to errors they wouldn't otherwise make, and 6% said they make errors that could harm patients.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Psychiatrists were asked whether their workplace had a program to reduce stress and burnout, and if so, whether they had used it. Only one quarter reported that they had.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Most psychiatrists reported that they are married (72%), and 7% said they live with a partner. Among this specialist group, 12% are single, 7% are divorced and not remarried, and 1% are widowed.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More psychiatrists reported that they are married to a person who works outside of the healthcare field (58%) than to someone within it (42%). Of that 42%, 20% are married to another physician and 22% are married to a non-physician working in healthcare.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
When asked whether they have spiritual or religious beliefs, 63% of psychiatrists responded that they do and 30% said they do not. Seven percent preferred not to answer this question.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Half of psychiatrists said they have three or fewer close friends, while 36% said they have four to six. A gregarious 14% reported that they have seven or more close friends in their circle.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Over half (55%) of psychiatrists surveyed take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation each year, while 15% take even more. Nearly one third (29%), however, take 2 weeks or less.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Fifty-one percent of psychiatrists said they want to lose weight, while 30% want to maintain their current weight. Only 18% reported that they are not trying to control their weight, while 1% would like to gain weight.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion[1] recommends 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or an hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity per week. Over one third (35%) of psychiatrists said they exercise two to three times a week, while 32% do so even more often. In contrast, 21% reported that they exercise once a week or less, and 13% said they don't exercise at all.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
Just over half (52%) of psychiatrists reported that they have less than one drink per week or do not drink at all, while 19% said they have five or more drinks each week.
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
This year, physicians were asked what kind of car they drive; they could name as many as applied. Among psychiatrists, the most popular makes were Toyota (22%), Honda (18%), and BMW (9%).
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
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Medscape Psychiatrist Lifestyle Report 2018: Personal Happiness vs Work Burnout
Sarah Grisham | January 24, 2018 | Contributor Information
More than 19,200 physicians in over 27 specialties responded to this year's Medscape compensation survey and told about their compensation, productivity, challenges, and more.Medscape Features Slideshows, April 2017
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Contributor Information
Sarah Grisham
Freelance writer
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Disclosure: Sarah Grisham has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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