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.
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