Citation

Hampton T. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 2005; 294(10): 1189-1191.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.294.10.1189

PMID

16160124

Abstract

Studies over the past 4 decades have shown that physicians die by suicide more frequently than nonphysicians. Because of this striking finding, experts with knowledge and experience in areas including medicine, health insurance, and physician licensing recently convened to address factors in the profession that can discourage physicians experiencing depression and other psychiatric conditions from seeking treatment. "The object of getting all of these people together is to see if we can change the culture of medicine," said cochair Herbert Hendin, MD, medical director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College, in New York City.