Otolaygngology is the physician specialty with the highest rate of physicians reporting suicidal thoughts in 2023, according to Medscape's "Medscape Physician Suicide Report," which surveyed 9,100 practicing physicians among more than 29 specialties.
Physician specialties with the highest rate of suicidal thoughts, and the percentage of physicians who have experienced suicidal thoughts:
1. Otolaryngology: 13 percent
2. Psychiatry: 12 percent
3. Family medicine: 12 percent
4. Anesthesiology: 12 percent
5. Obstetrics and gynecology: 12 percent
6. Emergency medicine: 12 percent
7. Physical medicine and rehabilitation: 11 percent
8. Internal medicine: 11 percent
9. Pediatrics: 11 percent
10. Plastic surgery: 11 percent
11. Public health and preventive medicine: 11 percent
12. Allergy and immunology: 10 percent
13. General surgery: 10 percent
14. Neurology: 10 percent
15. Urology: 9 percent
16. Cardiology: 9 percent
17. Pathology: 8 percent
18. Infectious diseases: 8 percent
19. Gastroenterology: 8 percent
20. Endocrinology: 8 percent
21. Ophthalmology: 8 percent
22. Critical care: 8 percent
23. Dermatology: 7 percent
24. Radiology: 7 percent
25. Orthopedics: 7 percent
26. Nephrology: 7 percent
27. Oncology: 7 percent
28. Rheumatology: 5 percent
29. Pulmonary medicine: 4 percent