DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i12.020

Pages: 4876-4882

Medical students are a valuable human source for our future and depression in them leads to less productivity, reduced quality of life, learning difficulties and may negatively affect patient care, placing him or her at greater risk for problems such as substance abuse and suicidal behavior. To estimate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among medical students. All the students from 1st year to 4th year were approached to participate in the study and were assessed using Beck Depression Inventory Scale. Association between depression and gender, year of study, medium of instruction in school and social factors like cigarette smoking, alcohol use, family problems, family history of depression, staying away of home, physical activity, existence of social support, conflict between career life with private life and work place phobia were analyzed by chi square and Odds Ratio with 95% confidence intervals as applicable. More than half 192 (61.14%) of the students had symptoms of depression. 63(53.85%) of total females and 129(65.49%) of total males reported symptoms suggestive of depression. According to the cut off scores, 122 students (38.8%) scored as normal (0-10), 57 students (18.15%) showed mild mood disturbance (11-16), (25.5%) as mild (17-20), 31 (9.87%) as moderate (21-30), 18 (5.73%) as severe (31-40), and 6 (1.93%) as very severe (>40) depression. The association between the grade of depression and sex was statistically significant (χ2 =10.34, P<0.035). The prevalence of depression was found highest in 4th year 62(82.4%). Prevalence of the depression is considerable amongst the medical students. Remedial measures should be undertaken to address this important issue.