Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among general medicine residents

Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a prevalence of 0.7 % in the general population in France and significantly impairs functioning and quality of life. Medical residents are frequently exposed to traumatic events, and several studies highlight that the residency period is a source of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and suicidal thoughts. However, PTSD remains understudied in this population. We aimed to assess the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among general practice residents.

Methods

This observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, epidemiological study was conducted among residents enrolled in the Diploma of Specialized Studies in General Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Montpellier-Nîmes (France). Participants received a questionnaire via the university email, including the Post-traumatic Check List (PCL) -5 self-assessment scale (positivity threshold ≥33). Only responses with all questions completed were included in the analysis.

Results

The prevalence of PTSD symptomatology among general practice residents was 6.8 % (95 %CI: 2.9–13). Women accounted for 87.5 % of cases with a positive PCL score. The traumatic events reported occurred in both professional and personal contexts, with emergency medicine and pediatrics being the types of residency trainings where most of the traumatic professional exposure occured. Mental health problems and addictive behaviors were reported in 60 % of cases even in the absence of PTSD symptoms.

Discussion

PTSD symptoms prevalence among general practice residents is 6 times higher than the French general population. The residency period poses a significant risk for PTSD, particularly in high-stress trainings such as emergency medicine and pediatrics. These findings underscore the need to expand investigations to residents across all specialties and to enhance awareness, prevention, and screening efforts for PTSD, ultimately aiming to improve the mental health of future general practitioners.