Depression in the 1st year of MBBS – A longitudinal perspective

Abstract

Background: Medical school is difficult, and studies have shown that medical students have a higher rate of depression than general people. This may be related to a competitive environment or intellectual burnout. Other contributing variables to this issue include the person’s social background, financial situation, and mental state. This may have long-lasting impacts and help to explain why a lot of doctors commit suicide. It is crucial to pinpoint the causes and deal with them to prevent the detrimental effects of depression among medical students. Aims and Objectives: The present study aims to measure the depression among medical students using patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and to assess the correlates of depression among them. Materials and Methods: In this longitudinal study, data collected from 214 1st year medical students thrice: At the beginning, at midterm, and after completion of their university examination. PHQ-9 was used for screening of depression and multidimensional scale of perceived social support was used to find out the social support in the study participants. Results: It is found that depression affects the majority of the male younger students staying at hostels and coming from the rural background. Conclusion: The extent of depression is high among the study population which warrants its screening with the incorporation of mental health services for promotion of mental well-being among medical students.