Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Among Medical Students before their Final Examinations at a Private Medical College of Tamil Nadu, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Due to their susceptibility to mental health problems, medical students should have their prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression checked before their final examinations. Aim: To assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among medical students at a private medical college in Tamil Nadu, India, four weeks before their final examinations. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a private medical college, Tamil Nadu, India, including 297 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students, using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire in December 2022 The survey was completed independently by the students with verbal agreement obtained; the response rate was 68.2%. The short form and history of usage of the DASS-21 in comparable medical student research led to its selection. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 20.48±1.23 years. The DASS-21 revealed prevalence rates of 60.9% for depression, 72.7% for anxiety, and 40.4% for stress among 297 first- to third-year medical students. There was no discernible effect of gender on these rates. With a depression frequency of 69% and significantly higher rates of severe depression (18.6%), first-year students demonstrated the highest scores, which were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study highlights the need for preventative actions, such as professional counselling, early detection of mental health problems, and educational programs on healthy coping mechanisms. To support medical students from the start of their academic journey and ultimately promote their resilience and mental health, these interventions should be specially designed.