PURPOSE: Results of a survey-based study assessing rates of depression and depressive symptoms among pharmacy residents are reported.
METHODS: In a time-series study conducted during the 2015-16 residency year, pharmacy residents nationwide were invited to participate in a series of online surveys (administered in September and December 2015 and March 2016). Survey participants reported demographic data and provided information on residency characteristics and perceived family and program support; the survey incorporated the 9-item depression screening component of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics were used to estimate rates of depression and depressive symptoms.
RESULTS: There were 633, 542, and 749 respondents to the September, December, and March surveys, respectively, for an overall response rate of 20.5%. The mean age of respondents was 26.9 years. Among respondents to the March survey, 39.9% (95% confidence interval, 36.2-43.2%) reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. The rate of severe depressive symptoms (as measured by PHQ-9 scores) increased from 3.2% in the September survey to 7.8% in the March survey ( < 0.05); rates of self-reported low depressive symptoms decreased over the same time period ( < 0.05). By comparison, rates of depressive symptoms in medical residents have been reported to be in the range of 30%.
CONCLUSION: A survey of pharmacy residents found that the rate of depressive symptoms, as measured by the PHQ-9, was higher than reported rates in the U.S. general population.
