Anesthesiologists and the Risk for Suicidal Behaviour: a Note of Concern

Forfattere

  • Usha Gurunathan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5617/suicidologi.2127

Sammendrag

Although physicians seem to have healthy lifestyles, they can be susceptible to the stress of the profession, resulting in substance abuse and depression that may culminate in suicide. Amongst the medical fields, anesthesiology has been considered as a stressful specialty due to the huge responsibility involved in safe care of patients through any surgery as well as the production pressure and time constraints in the work atmosphere. This burden, along with the advanced clinical skills and ready accessibility to potent drugs, increases the risk of addiction and suicide. This article summarises the results from various studies done so far on the factors contributing to the risk of suicide in physicians, in particular anesthesiologists, and discusses the issues associated with detection of the extent of the problem along with strategies to prevent further increase in the problem. It is intended to raise public awareness about this occupational hazard amongst trainees and consultants in this profession. Leger med en tilsynelatende sunn livsførsel, kan være sårbare for profesjonsstresset, noe som kan resultere i stoffmisbruk og depresjon – ov videre føre til selvmordsatferd. Blant spesialistgrenene har anestesi blitt betraktet som spesielt stressende, grunnet det store ansvaret som forsvarlig pasientpleie ved enhver kirurgi krever, samt produksjonspress og tidsføringer i jobbsituasjonen. Denne byrden, i tillegg til de avanserte tekniske ferdighetene denne gruppen besitter og tilgjengeligheten av potente legemidler, øker risikoen for avhengighet og selvmord. Denne artikkelen oppsummerer resultatene fra ulike studier som har undersøkt de risikofaktorer som medvirker til legers selvmordsrisiko, særlig hos anestesileger. Artikkelen diskuterer hvorfor det er vanskelig å oppdage problemet og hvor utbredt det er, samt forbyggingsstrategiene. Artikkelen er ment som et innlegg for å mane til offentlig oppmerksomhet rundt de yrkesrisiko som omgir turnuskandidater og spesialister i denne profesjonen.

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Nedlastinger

Publisert

2015-05-28