POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER SYMPTOMS IN RESIDENT PHYSICIANS RELATEDTO THEIR INTERNSHIP

To evaluate whether stresses experienced by physicians during internsh ip ave associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, the authors administered a standardized questionnaire to assess PTSD s ymptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and social supports to 212 r esidents. Thirteen percent of residents met diagnostic criteria for PT SD, including 20% of the women and 9% of the men. PTSD symptoms were s ignificantly more frequent in residents who were single or divorced at the time the questionnaire was administered. There were significant p ositive correlations between PTSD symptoms and symptoms of both curren t anxiety and depression, and a significant negative correlation exist ed between social support and PTSD symptoms, PTSD symptoms attributed to stresses associated with internship, which may be deleterious to ph ysician well-being and potentially to patient care, and suggest the im portance of making major changes in postgraduate medical training.