Predictors of depression during the first 6 months of internship

Fifty-five interns, representing 71% of the medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, surgery, and pediatric interns at one medical center for one year, participated in interviews involving the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) and Family History-RDC and completed symptom and attitudinal scales at 6-month intervals. Fifteen (27%) developed a depressive syndrome during the first 6 months of internship. Parental history of depression and high scores of trait neuroticism were significantly associated with onset of depression, but personal history of psychopathology, low capacity for experiencing pleasure, and workload were not.