ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN MEDICAL STUDENTS OF A PRIVATE MEDICAL COLLEGE

Authors

  • Nadia Azad Foundation University Medical College
  • Afshan Shahid foundation university medical College
  • Nadeem Abbas Foundation University Medical College
  • Azra Shaheen Armed forces Institute of Rehabilition Medicine (AFIRM)
  • Nargis Munir Rawal Institute of Healthl Sciences Islamabad

Abstract

Background: Depression and anxiety are the common mental disorders with a prevalence of 10–44% in developing countries and is the fourth leading cause of morbidity. Undergraduate medical studies are generally perceived to be more stressful for the students as compared to other undergraduate programs  as students have to undergo strenuous curriculum and evaluation which may lead to many emotional stresses that may end with psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. This study aimed to determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in medical students of Foundation University Medical College (FUMC), Rawalpindi. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, Beck Depressive Inventory and Beck Anxiety scales were used to assess anxiety and depression at three different times of the Academic year. All five-year students were included in the study. Results: Out of a sample of 150 students, mild depression was seen in 37.46% and moderate to severe depression was observed in 14% students.  About 19% of the students had moderate to severe anxiety. In Second year students time of assessment was significantly related to depression and anxiety (p-0.000). Females had higher association with depression in final year (p-0.037). Conclusion: High psychiatric morbidity found needs to be identified and treated at the earliest; otherwise it can lead to serious consequences such as suicidal ideation and burnout.    Keywords: Anxiety, depression, medical students

Author Biographies

Nadia Azad, Foundation University Medical College

Associate Professor , Dept of Psychiatry

Afshan Shahid, foundation university medical College

Assistant Professor, Dept of Community Medicine

Nadeem Abbas, Foundation University Medical College

Professor of Psychiatry, FUMC

Azra Shaheen, Armed forces Institute of Rehabilition Medicine (AFIRM)

Clinical Psychologist, 

Nargis Munir, Rawal Institute of Healthl Sciences Islamabad

Psychologist , Department of Psychiatry . 

References

WHO. Depression: A Global Crisis. World Mental Health Day, October 10 2012. Occoquan: World Federation for Mental Health; 2012.

WHO. The World Health Report 2001: Mental health: new understanding, new hope. World Health Organization; 2001.

Mirza I, Jenkins R. Risk factors, prevalence, and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in Pakistan: a systematic review. BMJ 2004;328(7443):794.

MOHD SIDIK S. Rampal L, Kaneson N. Prevalence of emotional disorders among medical students in Malaysian university. Asia Pac Fam Med 2003;2(4):213–7.

Ahmed I, Banu H, Al-Fageer R, Al-Suwaidi R. Cognitive emotions: depression and anxiety in medical students and staff. J Crit Care 2009;24(3):e1–7.

Aktekin M, Karaman T, Senol YY, Erdem S, Erening H, Akaydin M. Anxiety, depression and stressful life events among medical students: a prospective study in Antalya, Turkey. Med Educ 2001;35(1):12–7.

Dahlin M, Joneburg N, Runesan B. Stress and depression among medical students: a cross-sectional study. Med Educ 2005;39(6):594–604.

Khan MS, Mehmood S, Badshan A, Ali SU, Jamal Y. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and their associated factors among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan. J Pak Med Assoc 2006;56(12):583–6.

Beck AT, Steer RA, Carbin MG. Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of evaluation. Clin Psychol Rev 1988;8(1):77–100.

Beck AK, Epstein N, Brown G, Steer RA. An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties. J Consult Clin Psychol 1988;56(6):893–7.

Turner RJ, Lloyd DA. Stress burden and lifetime incidence of Psychiatric disorders in young adults: racial and ethnic contrasts. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2004;61(5):481–8.

Jadoon NA, Yaqoob R, Raza A, Shahzad MA, Zeshan SC. Anxiety and depression among medical students: cross sectional Study. J Pak Med Assoc 2010;60(8):699–702.

Dyrbye LN, Thomas MR, Shanafelt TD. Systematic review of depression, anxiety and other indicators of psychological disorders among U.S and Canadian Medical Students. Acad Med 2006;81(4):354–73.

Seedat S, Stein DJ, Jackson PB, Heeringa SG, Williams DR, Myer L. Life stress and mental disorders in South African Stress and health study. S Afr Med J 2009;99(5 Pt 2):375–82.

Stewart SM, Betson C, Marshall I, Wong CM, Lee PW, Lam TH. Stress and vulnerability in medical students. Med Educ 1995;29(2):119–27.

Toews JA, Lockyer JM, Dobson DJ, Simpson E, Brownell AK, Brenneis F, et al. Analysis of stress levels among medical students, residents and graduate students at four Canadian schools of medicine. Acad Med 1997;72(11):997–1002.

Inam SN, Saqib A, Alam E. Prevalence of anxiety and depression, among medical students of private university. J Pak Med Assoc 2003;53(2):44–7.

Bunevicius A, Katkute A, Bunevicius R. Symptoms of anxiety and depression in medical students and in humanities students: Relationship with big-five personality dimensions and vulnerability to stress. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2008;54(6):494–501.

Rab F, Mamdou R, Nasir S. Rate of depression and anxiety among female medical students in Pakistan. East Mediterr Health J 2008;14(1):126–33.

Baldassin S, Alves TC, de Andrade AG, Noqueira Martins LA. The characteristics of depressive symptoms in medical students during medical education and training: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med Educ 2008;8:60.

Smith CK, Peterson DF, Degenhaedt BF, Johnson JC. Depression, anxiety, and perceived hassles among entering medical students. Psychol Health Med 2007;12(1):31–9.

Dyrbe LN, Thomas MR, Massie FS, Power DV, Eacker A, Harper W, et al. Burnout and suicidal ideation among US medical students. Ann Intern Med 2008;149(5):334 –41.

Published

2017-01-25