A new US-UK diagnostic project: mood  elevation and depression in first-year  undergraduates at Oxford and Stanford  universities.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences in prevalence of mood elevation, distress and depression among first-year undergraduates at Oxford and Stanford universities.


METHODS
An online survey was sent to Oxford and Stanford first-year undergraduate students for two consecutive years in the winter of 2005 and 2006. Students completed a survey that assessed mood symptoms and medication use.


RESULTS
Both universities had similar rates of distress by General Health Questionnaire (Oxford - 42.4%; Stanford - 38.3%), depression by Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (Oxford - 6.2%; Stanford - 6.6%), and psychotropic and non-psychotropic medication usage (psychotropic: Oxford - 1.5%; Stanford 3.5%; nonpsychotropic: Oxford - 13.3%; Stanford - 18%). Oxford had higher rates of mood elevation by Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) (Oxford - 4%; Stanford - 1.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxford and Stanford students have similar rates of mood distress, depression and general medication usage. Students at Oxford have a higher prevalence of MDQ scores that possibly indicate a bipolar disorder, while Stanford students are prescribed more psychotropics.
Chandler
R A
RA
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Wang
P W
PW
Ketter
T A
TA
Goodwin
G M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs