Depressive symptoms among undergraduate Medical students: Study from a Medical college in Kolkata, India.

Abstract

Psychological Morbidities among medical undergraduates are quite common at various stages of their training, which vary depending on academic pressures, different socio-demographic factors and the scale of measurement. Impaired mental health among students may adversely influence their academic performances, play a role in alcohol and substance use and place them at increased risk of suicidal attempts. A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was undertaken among undergraduate medical students of different batches in a Medical College in Kolkata, India using BDI II scale to assess the proportion of students had depressive symptoms along with relation of some socio-demographic factors and methods to cope with. Males and hostelites were more. Total 41.1% had probable depression among which 15% had Mild and 26.1% had Mod- Severe depression. Lower proportion of depression found among 3 rd .semester batch (21.6%) than their senior batches. Depression was more among males, hostelites, students coming from higher income category. As cope up strategies, 24.4% adopted substance abuse, 6.7% attempted self mutilation which even increased to 17% for Mod-Severe depression. Screening for psychological well being of the medical students during training on regular basis along with appropriate intervention is the need of the hour.