Risk factors at medical school for later severe depression: A 15-year longitudinal, nationwide study (NORDOC)

Background s have an increased risk of suicide, and depressive symptoms are prominent among young doctors. We lack prospective studies that identify risk factors to be targeted in medical schools. s 993 to 2008, graduating medical students (n=631) from all four Norwegian universities participated in the Longitudinal Study of Norwegian Medical Students and Doctors (NORDOC). After their graduating term (T1), they were followed up 1 (T2), 4 (T3), 10 (T4), and 15 (T5) years later with postal surveys. Severe depressive symptoms were measured by the General Health Questionnaire-28 (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5) and analyzed by generalized estimating equations. s and T5, 13.7% and 7.2%, respectively, of the doctors reported severe depressive symptoms; a significant reduction over time (p=0.001) in both genders (response rates 56–83%). Independent risk factors for future depressive symptoms were: young age (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.2, p=0.003); high neuroticism (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.5–7.6, p=0.003); high reality weakness (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.2, p=0.008); and severe depressive symptoms at T1 (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.1–6.1, p<0.001). tions ion bias and concurrent life and work stress may have influenced the results. sions ition to low age, high neuroticism yielded a threefold increased risk over the 15-year follow-up, whereas high reality weakness, which is linked to personality pathology, doubled the risk. These factors are clinically relevant for identification of students at risk.