Key result
Suicidal thoughts affect ~20% of final-year medical students, linked to higher neuroticism and lower extroversion.
Why the study?
Are suicidal ideation, personality traits, and stress hormones associated in final-year medical students?
Are suicidal ideation, personality traits, and stress hormones associated in final-year medical students?
Final-year medical students have a high prevalence of suicidal ideation (20%), which is associated with specific personality traits and psychiatric disorders, highlighting the need for targeted support mechanisms.
Calls for targeted support in final-year medical students; extends evidence linking personality traits to suicidal ideation.
In this study, 1 out of every 5 interns had suicidal thoughts. The presence of psychiatric disorders and suicidal ideation was associated with an increase in the SPS score. The participants with suicidal ideation had higher neuroticism scores and lower extroversion scores. Although ACTH levels did not significantly differ between groups with and without suicidal ideation, a weak positive correlation with SPS scores was identified. Given that medical students are considered a group at risk of suicide, they should be monitored for suicide during their education and intervened with psychiatric, social, and medical support mechanisms.
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Ozbahar et al. (2026) studied this question. One in five final-year medical students reported suicidal thoughts, with higher neuroticism and lower extroversion scores observed in those with suicidal ideation.
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