title: Can medical students recognize depression? A survey at the Zagreb School of Medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate medical students' knowledge and attitudes towards depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students attending their final year at Zagreb School of Medicine completed a set of standardized questionnaires, including attitudes towards psychiatric medication, attitudes towards depression, and personality inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 199 students completed the questionnaire (response rate 77 %). Most medical students were only partially able to correctly identify major symptoms of depression, but did suggest referral to mental health specialists as the most appropriate course of action. They recognized social and biological causes of depression. Degree of correct identification of symptoms of depression correlated positively with non-stigmatizing attitudes towards depression and negatively with stigmatizing attitudes towards depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students' attitudes toward depression may influence their recognition of symptoms of depression. Incorporation of these findings in development of undergraduate medical curricula may improve students' recognition of depression.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, mrojnic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Martina Rojnic
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kuzman
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosnjak
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vokal
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuharic
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brkic
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuzman
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dujmovic
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017523:Croatia; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents