Academic results as a predictor of automedication and suicidal ideation among medical residents.

Introduction: The association of academic results and psychopathology has been extensively studied and contradictory results have been reported. One important estimator of academic abilities in Spain is the residency entry exam, a mandatory test which result serve as a way of ordering medical students to choose the hospital in which they will perform their medical training. Objectives: To analyse the association of the residency entry exam and the presence of automedication and suicidal ideation within the residency program. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey directed to all medical residents in Spain and analysed the association of the order number in the residency entry exam and the presence of automedication and suicidal ideation within the residency program with a non-parametric approach (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). Results: The median difference of the order number of the residency entry exam between the medical residents with and without active suicidal ideation was 45 (WMW p 0.49), 11 in the case of passive suicidal ideation(WMWp=0.75) and 43 in automedication (WMW p=0.34). Conclusions: Academic results, measured with the medical residency exam grade, is not associated with the presence of suicidal ideation or automedication in medical residents in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]