Recovery from a depressive episode during postgraduate residency training is associated with senior doctors' support

Background Depression among doctors in residency training can have significant impacts on the health of the residents and on patient safety. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with recovery from a depressive episode experienced during postgraduate residency training. Methods A questionnaire was administered to 2935 first-year residents at the beginning of residency training in 2011; follow-up surveys were conducted after 3 months and at the end of the training in 2013. The questionnaire included the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Senior Doctor's Support Scale (SDSS). Logistic regression was used to identify associations between factors that may have been related to recovery from depressive episodes. Results A total 182 residents experienced a depressive episode in the 3 months after starting residency training. When reassessed at the end of the 2-year training, 102 (56%) residents had recovered from the episode and 80 (44%) had not. Increased odds of recovery were associated with a middle or high score on the SDSS (middle score odds ratios [OR] 4.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-18.0, P = .04; and high score OR 5.70, 95% CI 1.4-23.4, P = .02). Conclusions Support from senior doctors should be enhanced to optimize recovery from depressive episodes experienced after the start of residency training.