Work Stress anxiety and depressive symptoms in Relation to Cognitive Functions and Cortisol Level among group of Egyptian Medical Residents (A Cross Sectional Comparative Study)

Abstract

Professional and personal stress is a significant and frequently overlooked component of a medical resident’s life. In addition, residents are at higher risk to develop depression and suicide than the general population. The degree of change in cortisol levels in response to stress is due to dysregulation of hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity that leads to impairing conditions like depression, anxiety and several other disorders which are associated with considerable suffering as well as elevated health care costs. Chronic exposure to elevated levels of GCs has an impact on cognition and the development of different psychopathologies.

The main aims of the current study were to answering the following queries: 1. Is there an association between stress and cognitive impairment? 2. Is salivary Cortisol level associated with stress exposure in medical residents? 3. Which residents (patient centered or non patient centered specialities) have the highest level of salivary Cortisol? 4. To what extent the severity of Anxiety and Depressive symptomatology in medical residents (patient centered or non patient centered).