By Patrick Campbell

Data from a 2019 survey of more than 5000 #cardiologists across the globe suggests 28% of the field may be experiencing some form of #mentalhealthcondition, with results also shedding light on predictors of #mentalhealthconditions.

Garima Sharma, MD

More than 1-in-4 #cardiologists report experiencing #mentalhealthconditions, according to the results of an American College of Cardiology (ACC)-led survey.

Conducted by the ACC, the survey, which was conducted in 2019, found 28% of the more than 5800 respondents reported some form of #mentalhealthcondition, with more than 40% of #cardiologists reporting a #mentalhealthcondition also reporting being dissatisfied with 1 or more career-related metrics.

“We highlight the need for the culture of cardiology to be more inclusive and supportive of those affected and encourage them to report their illness and seek treatment,” wrote investigators. “Given the high prevalence of #mentalhealthdisorders among #cardiologists globally, dedicated efforts are needed, on an individual and organizational level, to reduce the causes of #mentalillness and to create a safe environment for those affected by .”

Led by Garima Sharma, MD, associate vice chair of Women’s Careers in Academic Medicine in the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and a team of colleagues that included Laxmi Mehta, MD, the vice chair of wellness for the Department of Internal Medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and chair of the ACC’s Task Force on Clinician Well-Being, the current study was led with the intent of estimating the global prevalence of #mentalhealthconditions among #cardiologists and its relationships to professional life. Investigators obtained data for their analyses from a 50-item online anonymous questionnaire conducted by the ACC in the latter half of 2019 that was administered to 71,022 #cardiologists across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South and North America.

For the purpose of analysis, #mentalhealthconditions of interest included #alcohol/#drugusedisorder, #suicidaltendencies, psychological distress, other #psychiatricdisorder, and major #psychiatricdisorder. Investigators pointed out ACC member and nonmember #cardiologists listed within the ACC database were considered eligible for inclusion.

Of the 71,022 #cardiologists who were sent survey invitations 5931 responded, with 5830 answering questions related to #mentalhealth. Among respondents with #mentalhealth data, 77.4% were #men, 33.5% were less than 40 years of age, 53.5% identified as #White, 16.9% identified as #Asian, 16.7% identified as #Hispanic, 3.4% identified as non-#Hispanic #Black, and less than .5% identified as #NativeAmerican of native Hawaiian. Investigators pointed out 75.5% of #cardiologists were married and 74.9% had #children.

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Overall, 28.0% of respondents reported having a #mentalhealthcondition, with the prevalence varying across subgroups. Investigators pointed out #women #cardiologists were more likely to report having a #mentalhealthcondition (33.7% vs 26.3%; P 
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/04/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-more-than-1-in-4-cardiologists-report-mentalhealthconditions-survey-finds/