The personality traits with depression and suicidal ideation among Thai medical students: a university-based multiregional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression in medical students was greater than in the general population. Knowing of predictive factors for depression among medical students is useful. The objectives of this study included the assessment of personality traits as well as the association between the personality traits and the presence of symptoms of depression, and suicidal ideation among medical students covering several regions of Thailand. METHODS: From April to July 2023, a cross-section study was conducted. The participants included first to sixth-year medical students studying at three Faculties of Medicine in Thailand; Prince of Songkla University; Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University; and Chiang Mai University. Using the online process, the questionnaires were composed of three sections; demographic data; the International Personality Item Pool-NEO (IPIP-NEO), Thai version; and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Thai version. Demographics, personality traits, depression, and suicidal ideation were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results were presented as frequency, mean, and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR). The association between independent variables and the presence of depression was identified using binary logistic regression analysis, and the association with suicidal ideation was identified using ordinal logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The 868 medical students participated in this study. Most of them were female (63.5%), Buddhist (82.0%), and first-year medical students (31.8%). The mean age (SD) was 20.8 (2.2) years, and the mean cumulative Grade Point Average (SD) was 3.5 (0.4). They reported the median (IQR) score of PHQ-9 as 6.0 (3.0-9.0), 238 participants (27.4%) presented with depression, and 138 (15.9%) participants reported suicidal ideation. According to the IPIP-NEO, participants with depression or suicidal ideation had higher Neuroticism scores and lower Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scores compared to those without such issues. An increase in the Neuroticism score was linked to higher odds of depression, while an increase in the Conscientiousness score was associated with lower odds of depression. Suicidal ideation significantly increased with higher Neuroticism scores and the presence of a psychiatric illness. CONCLUSIONS: More than a quarter of Thai medical students reported depression. A higher Neuroticism and lower Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scores related to depression. Therefore, medical schools may benefit from knowing medical students' personality traits, to identify coping mechanisms and predict those at a higher risk of developing depression in the future.

Relationship of mental health and burnout with empathy among medical students in Thailand: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore mental health, burnout, and the factors associated with the level of empathy among Thai medical students. BACKGROUND: Empathy is an important component of a satisfactory physician-patient relationship. However, distress, including burnout and lack of personal well-being, are recognized to affect a lower level of empathy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study surveyed sixth-year medical students at three faculties of medicine in Thailand at the end of the 2020 academic year. The questionnaires utilized were: 1) Personal and demographic information questionnaire, 2) Thai Mental Health Indicator-15, 3) The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Thai version, and 4) The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and factors associated with empathy level were analyzed via the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, logistic regression., and linear regression. RESULTS: There were 336 respondents with a response rate of 70.3%. The majority were female (61.9%). Most participants reported a below-average level of empathy (61%) with a median score (IQR) of 43 (39-40). Assessment of emotion comprehension in others and altruism had the highest median empathy subgroup scores, whereas behaviors engaging higher-order empathic responses had the lowest median empathy subgroup score. One-third of participants (32.1%) had poor mental health, and two-thirds (62.8%) reported a high level of emotional exhaustion even though most of them perceived having a high level of personal accomplishment (97%). The multivariate analysis indicated that mental health was statistically significantly associated with the level of empathy. The participants with higher levels of depersonalization had statistically lower scores of demonstrating appropriate sensitivity, altruism, and behaviors engaging higher-order empathic responding. CONCLUSIONS: Most medical students had below-average empathy levels, and two-thirds of them had high emotional exhaustion levels, yet most of them reported having a high level of personal accomplishment and good mental health. There was an association between mental health and the level of empathy. Higher levels of depersonalization related to lower scores of demonstrating sensitivity, altruism, and behaviors responding. Therefore, medical educators should pay close attention to promoting good mental health among medical students.

Residual symptoms and their associated factors among Thai patients with depression: a multihospital-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common and debilitating disease, and even residual symptoms of depression can cause significant functional impairment. To achieve normal functioning, residual symptoms should also be identified and targeted by a competent treatment strategy. Thus, this study aimed to examine residual symptoms of depression and their associated factors among patients with depression. METHODS: A cross-sectional study surveyed Thai patients with depression at two psychiatric outpatient clinics, Songklanagarind Hospital, and Songkhla hospital; from June to October 2021. The questionnaires inquired about: (1) demographic information, (2) the PHQ-9 Thai version, (3) a questionnaire focusing on depressive symptoms that impacted daily life, and were originally expected to be improved due to antidepressants. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and associated factors concerning depressive symptoms were analyzed by a Chi-square and a logistic regression. RESULTS: Of all 566 respondents, the majority of them were female (75.4%). The overall mean age was 43.8 ± 18.1 years. The depressive symptoms that had high frequency, high impact on daily life, and that the participants expected that they are resolved or get better via antidepressants were: sleeping problems (81.6%), feeling depressed (79.9%), and lack of pleasure (75.4%). Most of the participants (65.7%) received one type of antidepressant, and the most prescribed antidepressants were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (51.1%). In regard to objectives, 45.4% of participants reported having residual depressive symptoms which included sleeping problems (71.2%), feeling down (62.6%), lack of pleasure (62.3%), and poor appetite (61.9%). The associated factors relating to residual depressive symptoms were younger age, high education level, and having physical illness. CONCLUSION: Almost half of patients with depression had residual symptoms, and they showed symptoms with high individual variability. Further to receiving effective treatment, a focused and individualized approach aiming for symptomatic remission, functional recovery, and quality of life improvements is key to recovery. Therefore, shared decision-making, and taking into account drug efficacy based on symptom profiles are both highly recommended.

Factors associated with the improvement of the empathy levels among clinical-year medical students in Southern Thailand: a university-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Empathy is one of the core medical professionalisms that distress, burnout, and lack of personal well-being is also recognized as an important influencer on lower empathy levels. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the mental health, burnout, and factors associated with the empathy levels among Thai, clinical-year medical students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study surveyed all fourth-to sixth-year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, in Thailand; at the end of the 2020 academic year. The questionnaires utilized were: (1) The personal and demographic information questionnaire, (2) The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire, (3) Thai Mental Health Indicator-15, and (4) The Maslach Burnout Inventory; Thai version. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and factors associated with empathy levels were analyzed via the chi-square test and logistic regressions. RESULTS: There were 466 participants, with a response rate of 91.5%. The majority were female (56.2%), and reported a below-average level of empathy (57.1%); with a median score (IQR) of 44 (40-48). The gender proportion of a below-average empathy level among male and female participants was 66.3% and 50.4%, respectively. Of the participants, 29.6% had poor mental health, 63.5% and 39.7% reported a high level of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores; even though most of them (96.6%) perceived having a high level of personal accomplishment. Multivariate analysis indicated that females, higher mental health, and a low level of depersonalization were statistically significant protective factors, which improved the empathy levels. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the clinical-year medical students reported below-average empathy levels. Female gender, better mental health, and a low level of depersonalization were related to the improvement of the empathy levels. Therefore, medical educators should emphasize the importance of focusing supporting students, of all genders and in regards to all stages of medical education, to increase their levels of empathy, to promote individual well-being, and to effectively prevent the phenomenon of student 'burnout'.