Mental health in three generations of Iranian medical students and doctors. A cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Despite research in Western countries finding high levels of psychological morbidity in medical students and doctors, little is known about difficulties faced by medical staff in the Middle East. The aim of the present study was to assess emotional disturbance and interpersonal attitudes in a representative sample of Iranian medical students and practitioners.


METHODS
A total of 82 medical students, 92 interns and 89 general practitioners (GPs) participated in the study. Participants rated the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and a measure of interpersonal attitudes.


RESULTS
A total of 44% of participants scored above the threshold of the GHQ-28, indicating probable psychiatric disorder. The GHQ-28 scores were higher in students than interns or GPs and in women compared with men. Medical students and doctors had high levels of indifference and cynicism.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that psychological morbidity was common in Iranian medical students and practitioners, particularly women. Women were at particular risk. A high prevalence of emotional disturbance among health care practitioners is likely to compound existing problems of health care provision.
Assadi
Seyed Mohammad
SM
Dept. of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. assadism@sina.tums.ac.ir
Nakhaei
Mohammad Reza
MR
Najafi
Fatima
F
Fazel
Seena
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires