A prospective cohort study investigating factors associated with depression during medical internship.

ABSTRACT:

Context

Although the prevalence of depression among medical interns substantially exceeds that of the general population, the specific factors responsible are not well understood. Recent reports of a moderating effect of a genetic polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter protein gene on the likelihood that life stress will precipitate depression may help to understand the development of mood symptoms in medical interns.

Objectives

To identify psychological, demographic, and residency program factors that are associated with depression among interns and to use medical internship as a model to study the moderating effects of this polymorphism.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

Thirteen US hospitals.

Participants

Seven hundred forty int

SUBMITTER: Sen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4036806 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature