Psychiatric morbidity among Saudi secondary schoolteachers.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress among male secondary schoolteachers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted during the academic session 2004/5, covering the teachers of 65 boys` secondary schools in Abha Educational Area, Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. A study sample of 195 teachers was obtained using the random sampling technique. Data were collected using the Arabic version of the 42-item Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-42).


RESULTS
Out of a total 195 teachers, 189 questionnaires were returned, yielding a response rate of 96.9%. Twenty-five percent had depression 43% had anxiety, and 31% of the participants had stress. Depression, anxiety, and stress were strongly, positively, and significantly correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
Male secondary schoolteachers in Abha educational area in Saudi Arabia experienced a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additional studies are needed to find out the causes of this problem.
Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, PO Box 641, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. khalidgelban@hotmail.com.
Khalid S
KS
Al-Gelban