The effects of becoming a physician on prescription drug use and mental health treatment

D. Mark Anderson, Ron Diris, Raymond Montizaan and Daniel I. Rees

Journal of Health Economics, 2023, vol. 91, issue C

Abstract: There is evidence that physicians disproportionately suffer from substance use disorder and mental health problems. It is not clear, however, whether these phenomena are causal. We use data on Dutch medical school applicants to examine the effects of becoming a physician on prescription drug use and the receipt of treatment from a mental health facility. Leveraging variation from lottery outcomes that determine admission into medical schools, we find that becoming a physician increases the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, opioids, and sedatives. Increases in the use of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sedatives are larger among female physicians than among their male counterparts.

JEL-codes: I10 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: The Effects of Becoming a Physician on Prescription Drug Use and Mental Health Treatment (2021)
Working Paper: The Effects of Becoming a Physician on Prescription Drug Use and Mental Health Treatment (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:91:y:2023:i:c:s0167629623000516

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102774

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