The Impact of Mental Illness Disclosure in Applying for Residency

Autor: Mara Pheister, Rachel M Peters, Marika I. Wrzosek
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Academic Psychiatry. 44:554-561
ISSN: 1545-7230
1042-9670
DOI: 10.1007/s40596-020-01227-8
Popis: Medical students have higher rates of depression than age-matched peers. Given the societal stigma against mental illness, students with depression often seek guidance on disclosing this in residency applications. This study aimed to answer whether disclosing a mental illness during the residency application process affects an applicant’s success in the National Resident Matching Program. The authors hypothesized candidates disclosing mental illness would receive fewer interviews and would be ranked lower than those disclosing physical illness. The authors randomized program directors from residencies accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to receive one of two surveys. Both surveys included similar demographic information and three applicant vignettes, varying only in presence and type of illness disclosed (major depression or diabetes mellitus). The authors analyzed data using the Generalized Estimating Equation method for ordinal logistic regression. Out of 3838 ACGME residency programs, 596 responded (16.9%). A total of 380 (10.7%) program directors (survey 1, n = 204, 5.3%; survey 2, n = 176, 4.6%) completed the survey. Applicants who disclosed a history of depression had higher odds of being in a lower category of receiving an invitation (OR = 3.60, p
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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