PTSD and surgical residents: Everybody hurts… sometimes

Abstract

Background: We aim to evaluate the prevalence of PTSD, its association with physician burnout, and risk factors for PTSD among surgical residents.

Methods: A cross-sectional national survey of surgical residents was conducted screening for PTSD. Causative traumatic stressors were queried, and thirty-one potential risk factors for PTSD were evaluated.

Results: A positive PTSD screen (PTSD+) was found in 22% of 582 surgical residents, and an additional 35% were "at risk" for PTSD. Traumatic experiences occurred most commonly as a PGY1, and the most common stressor was bullying. An increase in average hours of work per week (p < 0.001), a high-risk screen for PBO (p < 0.001), and feeling unhealthy (p = 0.001) were associated with an increasing prevalence of screening PTSD+.

Conclusions: The prevalence of screening PTSD+ among surgical residents (22%) was more than three times the general population. Increased work-hours, a high-risk PBO screen, and reduced resident wellness were associated with screening PTSD+.

Keywords: PTSD; Physician burnout; Physician wellness; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Residency; Surgery.