Citation

Brooks E, Gendel MH, Early SR, Gundersen DC. Arch. Suicide Res. 2017; 22(4): 519-528.

Affiliation

Colorado Physician Health Program , Denver , CO , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2017.1372827

PMID

28990863

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Document current risk factors associated with physicians' suicide ideation among a group of doctors enrolled in a Physician Health Program.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study drawn from administrative data. Compared intake information between doctors who reported recent thoughts of suicide (n = 70) and those who did not (n = 1,572) using adjusted regression analysis.

RESULTS: Current stressors included personal, financial, health and occupational problems; ideation was more likely with multiple stressors. Physicians endorsing suicidal ideation lacked personal supports and scored differently on Short Form-36 measures.

CONCLUSIONS: Evaluators treating physicians should assess enduring risks and current stressors, particularly multiple stressors, to help detect suicidal patients. Current stressors should not be viewed as transitory and it is critical to bring in collateral information.

Language: en

Keywords

evaluation; physician health program; physician suicide; suicide; total worker health