Characterizing Physician Suicide in the U.S. (2003-2017)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES/GOALS Suicide is a growing public health problem with the rate of suicide increasing 33% since 1999. Physicians are not immune to this growing problem. Physicians represent a unique population that has been understudied with respect to suicide. The aim of the study is to investigate risk factors unique to physicians compared to the general population. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION Using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System, a nationwide CDC database which aggregates information on violent deaths, we extracted demographic and circumstantial data on 172,135 suicide decedents ≥ 25 years old in participating states from 2003-2017. Of these, we found complete information regarding demographics, occupation, and circumstance for 160,159 suicide decedents. We separated suicide decedents by physician-status and compared 795 physicians to 159,364 non-physician decedents using chi-squared test. We then used multivariate logistic regression to examine differences in suicide method and circumstance by physician-status status, controlling for age, sex, and race. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Compared to non-physicians, physicians were more likely to be male (84.5% vs 77.3%, p<0.001) and older (45.1% ≥65 vs. 17.8%, p<0.001). Controlling for demographics, physicians were less likely to complete suicide by firearm (aOR=0.60, 95%CI=0.51-0.71) but were more likely to suicide by overdose (aOR=1.41, 95%CI=1.13-1.77) or cutting (aOR=2.81, 95%CI=2.03-3.88). Physicians were more likely to have job related stressors (aOR=2.24, 95%Cl=1.83-2.74) and legal problems (aOR=2.34, 95%Cl=1.70-3.21). Physicians were also more likely to leave a suicide note (aOR=1.48, 95%Cl=1.26-1.73) but were less likely to be intoxicated on alcohol at time of death (aOR=0.76, 95%Cl=0.62-0.93). Physicians were no different than non-physicians in terms of financial or relational stressors. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Physicians are more likely to be male and older. Given their medical training, overdose and cutting may be more accessible and lethal methods for physicians. Physicians are more likely to leave a suicide note and less likely to be intoxicated, which may imply less impulsivity. Job stressors and legal problems may also contribute to physician suicide.