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The Effects of Becoming a Physician on Prescription Drug Use and Mental Health Treatment

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  • D. Mark Anderson
  • Ron Diris
  • Raymond Montizaan
  • Daniel I. Rees

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, opioids, anxiolytics, and sedatives, especially for female physicians. Among female applicants towards the bottom of the GPA distribution, becoming a physician increases the likelihood of receiving treatment from a mental health facility.

Suggested Citation

  • D. Mark Anderson & Ron Diris & Raymond Montizaan & Daniel I. Rees, 2021. "The Effects of Becoming a Physician on Prescription Drug Use and Mental Health Treatment," NBER Working Papers 29536, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:29536
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karpinski, Ruth I. & Kinase Kolb, Audrey M. & Tetreault, Nicole A. & Borowski, Thomas B., 2018. "High intelligence: A risk factor for psychological and physiological overexcitabilities," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 8-23.
    2. Leuven, Edwin & Oosterbeek, Hessel & de Wolf, Inge, 2013. "The effects of medical school on health outcomes: Evidence from admission lotteries," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 698-707.
    3. Sacks, Daniel W. & Hollingsworth, Alex & Nguyen, Thuy & Simon, Kosali, 2021. "Can policy affect initiation of addictive substance use? Evidence from opioid prescribing," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Michelle Acampora & Francesco Capozza & Vahid Moghani, 2022. "Mental Health Literacy, Beliefs and Demand for Mental Health Support among University Students," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-079/I, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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