A cross-sectional study to assess prevalance of depression among medical students

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the most commonly encountered emotional stress in the general public and various type of clinical population. Even though options for effective treatment are widely available, this disorder is often undiagnosed and untreated. Various studies had shown that these symptoms are more common in adolescents. Severity varies among individual based on the predisposing factors. Hamiltonian Depression Ratinfg Scale is an effective tool to assess the severity of symptoms. So, the present study is planned to assess the prevalence of depression among medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the undergraduate students of Homoeopathic Medical College in Government sector between 2022 to 2023. A total of 60 students participated in this study to assess the prevalence of depression. The symptoms of depression were assessed using Hamiltonian depression scale.Results: The prevalence of depression was higher among these students. The high proportion and severity of depressive symptom observed in this study proves that depression is common among adolescents and cannot be ignored. Conclusion: Education, creating awareness and providing suitable intervention to improve mental health are important and is something which should be imparted at individual and community level. Moreover, there is a need for counselling facilities in schools and colleges for creating awareness, early recognition, and treatment of related issues.