Prevalence of burnout and its association with psychotropic medication use among surgical residents in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: Burnout is a considerable challenge for healthcare personnel, particularly among surgical specialties. Although psychotropic medicines are advantageous for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, their adverse effects prompt investigations into their possible role in burnout, a link that remains underexplored among surgical residents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of psychotropic drugs on burnout levels among surgical residents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study conducted in 2021 (n = 202) involved the use of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) to assess burnout levels among surgical residents at healthcare institutions across Riyadh. RESULTS: Among residents with moderate burnout, 21 (11.9%) used psychotropic drugs, with the remaining 155 (88.1%) reporting no use; the incidence of burnout showed no significant difference between medication users (n = 28), and non-users (n = 174); Chi-square test (χ2 = 3.0, p = 0.085). Burnout demonstrated a significant correlation with age (χ2 = 6.35, df = 2, p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: While confirming high burnout prevalence 57% (n = 115) among our study cohort, we found no significant link between psychotropic medication use and burnout levels in this study. The correlation with age highlights residency phase-specific stressors, warranting systemic interventions.