Frequency and Risk Factors of Depression among Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in Karachi

Sehrish Shafique; Aliza Tahir; Shaista Bakhat; Ayesha Saba  Naz; Hadia  Khursheed; Syed Bilal Yousuf  Ghaznavi; Naveed  Faraz

doi:10.37762/jgmds.10-4.454

Authors

Sehrish Shafique Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Aliza Tahir Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Shaista Bakhat Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Ayesha Saba Naz Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Hadia Khursheed Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Syed Bilal Yousuf Ghaznavi Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi
Naveed Faraz Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37762/jgmds.10-4.454

Keywords:

Depression, Medicine, Mental Health

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to determine the frequency of depression among medical students and to identify the different risk factors associated with depression.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students at a private medical college in Karachi. The study was initiated after approval was taken from the ethical committee. Consent was taken before the data collection after explaining the details of the study. Students were selected for this study as per inclusion criteria. They were provided with the PHQ-9 questionnaire in which they were inquired about the factors for depression. The total students with depression positive were presented by their frequencies with a 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS
Three hundred seventy medical students participated, and 207 (56%) tested positive for depression. Notably, depression was more prevalent among final-year students, with 80% affected. Additionally, the severity of depression gradually increased with advancing medical years, reaching the highest level in the final year, where 61 students (80%) reported significant depression. The most frequent causes of depression were living away from home and facing the challenges of a demanding curriculum.

CONCLUSION

The study findings revealed a higher likelihood of depression among medical students, particularly in their final year. This vulnerability was exacerbated by the stress associated with extensive coursework and peer pressure to achieve excellent exam grades.

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Author Biographies

Sehrish Shafique, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Aliza Tahir, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

House Officer,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Shaista Bakhat, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Ayesha Saba Naz, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Hadia Khursheed, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Lecturer, Department of Pathology,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Syed Bilal Yousuf Ghaznavi, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Lecturer, Department of Anatomy,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Naveed Faraz, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

Professor, Department of Pathology,
Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi

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