An evaluation of depressed mood in two classes of medical students.
OBJECTIVE
To assess depression rates in contemporary medical students.


METHODS
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered anonymously to two medical school classes at matriculation, the end of first year, and the end of second year.


RESULTS
Median scores for both classes were low at all points. The proportion of students scoring in the moderate or severely depressed range increased from 5.8% at matriculation to 10.5% by end of Year 2 for the Class of 2004, and from 5.1% to 11.9% over the same time period for the Class of 2005. Overall, 75-83% of students at every administration scored in the lowest BDI score range.


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of medical students who experience depressed mood increased over time, but to a lesser degree than in previous studies.
Levine
Ruth E
RE
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Route 0193, Galveston, Texas 77555-0193, USA. rlevine@utmb.edu
Litwins
Stephanie D
SD
Frye
Ann W
AW
D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*