Physicians' stress and anxiety have returned to pandemic levels, according to a national survey from The Physicians Foundation.
Nearly six in ten physicians (57%) reported they have felt inappropriate feelings of anger, tearfulness, or anxiety during the last year, the 2025 Survey of American Physicians found. This figure is up from about half of physicians in 2024 and 2023, but is similar to findings in 2022 and 2021.
Additionally, 46% of physicians indicated they have withdrawn from family, friends, or co-workers, up from 38% in 2024. And 34% of physicians said they have felt hopeless or without purpose, up from three in ten in 2024, but similar to 2023 and earlier years.
"This is really worrisome in light of the continuing stigma associated with seeking mental healthcare among many physicians, the additional barriers they face in getting that care, and the very real impact of their emotional well-being on burnout levels, our patients' access to care, the quality of the care they receive, and ultimately the cost of that care," Gary Price, MD, president of The Physicians Foundation, told MedPage Today.
