The relationship between academic performance and severity of depressed mood during medical school.
We employ a structural equation model to examine the relationship between academic performance and depressed mood over 4 years for a single medical school class. Academic performance measures included undergraduate gradepoint average, first- and second-year medical school gradepoint average, full Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and total National Boards Part I (NB) scores. Severity of depressed mood was assessed by administering the Beck Depression Inventory two times per year during the first 2 years, and once per year during the last 2 years. Overall there is little reason to think that depressive mood states compromise academic performance during the first 2 years of medical school for the class as a whole. Medical school grades had no direct impact on depressed mood, and mood had no direct impact on grades. There was a non-significant tendency for mood in the months preceding National Boards Part I to influence Board scores, which in turn influenced mood. Students with higher college gradepoint averages consistently reported fewer depressive symptoms throughout medical school. The latter result directs attention to a subgroup of medical students less susceptible to depression, or less prone to admit distress or symptoms. The non-susceptible and/or minimizing qualities of this subgroup merit further investigation.
Clark
D C
DC
Department of Psychiatry, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612.
Daugherty
S R
SR
Zeldow
P B
PB
Gotterer
G S
GS
Hedeker
D
D
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*