There is little or no information comparing working experience, including burnout, amongst psychiatry residents internationally. We present preliminary findings from six of the first countries to complete data collection.

To obtain data from psychiatric residents in over twenty countries regarding rates of burnout, depression and suicidality and their associations with working conditions and personality traits.

An online survey incorporating the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), Areas of Work Life Survey (AWLS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Suicide Ideation and Behaviour Questionnaire (SIBQ), Big Five Inventory - 10 (BFI-10) and questions on demographics and working circumstances was designed, and checked by national co-ordinators for suitability in each participating country, prior to agreeing the final version. This was then translated and back-translated before being sent to participants. A stratified hierarchy sample methodology was developed and used to obtain the best possible study population in each country. This allowed us to maximise participation despite major differences in ease of access to residents across the study countries. The aim of studying the whole resident population was achieved in a large number of countries. Data was then analysed by the study statistician using SPSS. No funding was received for the study.

Data from Croatia (n=106), France (n=374), Hungary (n=81), Italy (n=180), Romania (n=52) and United Kingdom (n>2000) revealed marked differences between countries in the factors studied including in working circumstances, rates of burnout and suicidality. The associations discovered may help further improve psychiatric training experience internationally.