Emotional Status of Third Year Medical Students and Their Responses to a Brief Intervention

Abstract

Three classes of entering third-year medical students answered questions regarding emotional and physical stress responses and self care behaviors and were screened for anxious and depressive symptoms. The most common stress response was emotional and the majority of students felt the most tension in their neck and shoulders. Students’ primary self care behavior was exercise. Sixteen percent screened positive for depressive symptoms as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and 24% screened positive for anxiety as assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) scale. A brief relaxation exercise was offered to students and resulted in statistically significant increases in perceived relaxation, lower tension, and increased skin temperature, a physiological indicator of relaxation. While a short relaxation intervention can produce significant improvements in stress-related symptoms, some students may be at risk for emotional disorders during medical school and need further evaluation and treatment.