Depression, anxiety and their associated factors among medical students.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression among medical students of Wah Medical College and their associations with sociodemographic and educational characteristics if any.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Wah Medical College, from September 2007 to March 2008.


METHODS
A sample of 279 students was included in the study after excluding first year medical students because they were admitted for less than 6 months. A self administered Encounter Form was administered. Sociodemographic and educational characteristics included age, gender, birth order, number of siblings, monthly income, monthly expenditure on education, academic performance in professional examination, past medical and past psychiatric history, substance abuse and family history of psychiatric illness. Beck depression inventory and beck anxiety inventory were used to assess the level of depression and anxiety. The chi-square test was applied at 5% level of significance to determine associated factors for anxiety and depression respectively.


RESULTS
The mean age of students was 21.4+/-1.41 years with female preponderance i.e. 202 (72.4%). Anxiety was present in 133 (47.7%) students and depression in 98 (35.1%) students. Both were found concomitantly in 68 (24.37%) students. Age (p=0.013), gender (p=0.016), examination criteria dissatisfaction (p=0.002) and overburden with test schedule (p=0.002) were significantly associated with depression. Anxiety was significantly associated with gender (p=0.007), birth order (p=0.049), year of study (p=0.001), examination criteria dissatisfaction (p=0.010) and overburden with test schedule (p=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
One third of students were found to have anxiety and depression which was associated with the sociodemographic and educational factors as stated above.
Alvi
Tabassum
T
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt. tabassumalvi@yahoo.com
Assad
Fatima
F
Ramzan
Mussarat
M
Khan
Faiza Aslam
FA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001722:Birth Order; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult