Cited by 2,909Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnoutInnovations in Medical EducationDiversity and Career in Medicine

Systematic review of depression, anxiety, and other indicators of psychological distress among U.S. and Canadian medical students

Dyrbye, Liselotte N., Thomas, Matthew R., Shanafelt, Tait D.·2006·Academic Medicine

Abstract

PURPOSE: To systematically review articles reporting on depression, anxiety, and burnout among U.S. and Canadian medical students. METHOD: Medline and PubMed were searched to identify peer-reviewed English-language studies published between January 1980 and May 2005 reporting on depression, anxiety, and burnout among U.S. and Canadian medical students. Searches used combinations of the Medical Subject Heading terms medical student and depression, depressive disorder major, depressive disorder, professional burnout, mental health, depersonalization, distress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion. Reference lists of retrieved articles were inspected to identify relevant additional articles. Demographic information, instruments used, prevalence data on student distress, and statistically significant associations were abstracted. RESULTS: The search identified 40 articles on medical student psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, burnout, and related mental health problems) that met the authors' criteria. No studies of burnout among medical students were identified. The studies suggest a high prevalence of depression and anxiety among medical students, with levels of overall psychological distress consistently higher than in the general population and age-matched peers by the later years of training. Overall, the studies suggest psychological distress may be higher among female students. Limited data were available regarding the causes of student distress and its impact on academic performance, dropout rates, and professional development. CONCLUSIONS: Medical school is a time of significant psychological distress for physicians-in-training. Currently available information is insufficient to draw firm conclusions on the causes and consequences of student distress. Large, prospective, multicenter studies are needed to identify personal and training-related features that influence depression, anxiety, and burnout among students and explore relationships between distress and competency.

Integrity signals

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Crossref · 10.1097/00001888-200604000-00009

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189 of 189 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Dyrbye, L. N., Thomas, M. R., & Shanafelt, T. D.
Affiliations
Mayo Clinic (US)
Corresponding author
Dyrbye, Liselotte N.
Venue
Academic Medicine
Published
2006-04
Volume
81
Issue
4
Pages
354-373
ISSN
1040-2446 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2046920446
Cited by
2,909
References
189
Citations by year
2026: 197 · 2025: 205 · 2024: 241 · 2023: 246 · 2022: 236 · 2021: 292 · 2020: 261 · 2019: 185 · 2018: 148 · 2017: 162 · 2016: 131 · 2015: 119 · 2014: 123 · 2013: 83 · 2012: 74
FWCI
5.45
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Academic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
Keywords
medical students, depression, anxiety, psychological distress, burnout, mental health, prevalence, gender differences, medical education, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization
MeSH terms
Anxiety Disorders, Burnout, Professional, Canada, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological, Students, Medical, United States, Incidence

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