About 12.9% of medical physicians suffered from major depression while 9.7% suffered from suicidal ideation.

The purpose of a multi-center cross-sectional study was to identify the risk factors for serious depression and suicidal thoughts in a large sample of medical professionals.

Using the propensity score-matched method, a total of 1343 inhabitants were included in this study. Numerous characteristics were gathered incorporating demographics, nutritional preferences, life-related factors, work-related factors, and psychological aspects utilizing a self-reported questionnaire. Measurements of depression, physical activity, perceived organization support, psychological capital, sleep quality, and burnout were made using specific scales. With the aid of binary paired logistic regression, calculation of adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals was done.

Overall, 12.90% of the residents who participated in the research had serious depression, and 9.70% had suicidal thoughts. Major depression and suicide thoughts were linked with four independent risk variables that overlapped: worse quality of sleep (odds ratio [OR] = 1.317, OR = 1.200); lower psychological capital optimism (OR = 0.899, OR = 0.835); greater depersonalization (OR = 1.086, OR = 1.097); and lowered personal accomplishment (OR = 0.963, OR = 0.962).

The primary risk variables for major depression were inappropriate working hours per week (< 40 h vs. 40–60 h; OR = 2.812, > 60 h vs. 40–60 h; OR = 1.945), and increased emotional exhaustion (OR = 1.112). For suicidal thoughts, the risk factor was a higher expectation of psychological capital (OR = 1.077).

There is a significant prevalence of both major depression and suicide ideation in medical physicians, as well as certain shared risk factors for both illnesses. These results strengthen the already-existing theoretical framework for depression and highlight the urgent need for more research into intervention techniques that might improve the mental health of doctors.