TY - JOUR
T1 - Alcohol use in an academic medical school environment
T2 - A UC San Diego Healer Education Assessment and Referral (HEAR) Report
AU - Martinez, Stephanie
AU - Tal, Ilanit
AU - Norcross, William
AU - Newton, Isabel Gala
AU - Downs, Nancy
AU - Seay, Kathryn
AU - McGuire, Tara
AU - Kirby, Brittany
AU - Chidley, Brittany
AU - Tiamson-Kassab, Maria
AU - Lee, Daniel
AU - Hadley, Allison
AU - Doran, Neal
AU - Jong, Pam
AU - Lee, Kelly
AU - Moutier, Christine
AU - Norman, Marc
AU - Zisook, Sidney
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Medical students and physicians in training and in practice are at risk for excessive alcohol use and abuse, potentially impacting the affected individuals as well as their family members, trainees, and patients. However, several roadblocks to care, including stigma, often keep them from seeking treatment.METHODS: We analyzed data from anonymous questionnaires completed by medical students, house staff, and faculty from 2009 to 2014 as part of a depression awareness and suicide prevention program at a state-supported medical school in the United States. The authors explored associations between self-reported "drinking too much" and depression, suicidal ideation, substance use, intense affective states, and mental health treatment.RESULTS: Approximately one-fifth of the respondents reported "drinking too much." "Drinking too much" was associated with more severe depression and impairment, past suicide attempts and current suicidal ideation, intense affective states, and other substance use. Those who were "drinking too much" were more likely than others to accept referrals for mental health treatment through the anonymous interactive screening program, suggesting that this program may be effective in skirting the stigma barrier for accessing mental health care for this at-risk population.CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported prevalence of "drinking too much" among medical students, house staff, and faculty is high and associated with negative mental health outcomes. Targeted, anonymous screenings may identify at-risk individuals and provide mental health care referrals to those in need.
AB - BACKGROUND: Medical students and physicians in training and in practice are at risk for excessive alcohol use and abuse, potentially impacting the affected individuals as well as their family members, trainees, and patients. However, several roadblocks to care, including stigma, often keep them from seeking treatment.METHODS: We analyzed data from anonymous questionnaires completed by medical students, house staff, and faculty from 2009 to 2014 as part of a depression awareness and suicide prevention program at a state-supported medical school in the United States. The authors explored associations between self-reported "drinking too much" and depression, suicidal ideation, substance use, intense affective states, and mental health treatment.RESULTS: Approximately one-fifth of the respondents reported "drinking too much." "Drinking too much" was associated with more severe depression and impairment, past suicide attempts and current suicidal ideation, intense affective states, and other substance use. Those who were "drinking too much" were more likely than others to accept referrals for mental health treatment through the anonymous interactive screening program, suggesting that this program may be effective in skirting the stigma barrier for accessing mental health care for this at-risk population.CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported prevalence of "drinking too much" among medical students, house staff, and faculty is high and associated with negative mental health outcomes. Targeted, anonymous screenings may identify at-risk individuals and provide mental health care referrals to those in need.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 27285389
AN - SCOPUS:85041622672
SN - 1040-1237
VL - 28
SP - 85
EP - 94
JO - Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
JF - Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -