KUMJ | VOL. 14 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 53 | JAN-MAR, 2016
Study of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among the Medical Students in two Medical Colleges of Nepal
Kunwar D, Risal A, Koirala S
Abstract: Background
Medical education is intended to prepare graduates for a promoting health and
caring for the sick. Medical students are confronted with significant academic,
psychological and existential stressors. There is insufficient information regarding
psychological morbidity among Nepalese medical students.
Objective
To determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress, among the medical
students in Nepal, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics.
Method
A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was conducted including all students
from first to fifth year of student using convenience method of sampling from
Kathmandu University Medical School (KUSMS), Dhulikhel and Manipal College of
Medical Sciences (MCOMS), Pokhara, Nepal. Depression, Anxiety and stress were
assessed using Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Additional questions
regarding demographic variables were also included in the survey. Data analysis was
done on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS version 16.
Result
A total of 538 students participated in the study giving a response rate of 89.6%.
Aamong them 56.5% were from age group 21-25 years, 42.2% were below 20 years
and only 1.3% were above 25 years of age. Among them 52% were female and 48%
were male. Our study found that the overall prevalence of depression was 29.9%,
anxiety was 41.1% and stress was 27% among all participated medical students.
Depression was significantly associated (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.43-3.47, p<0.001) with
living condition (living in hostel or rented house).
Conclusion
The higher level of psychiatric morbidity depression 29.9%, anxiety 41.1% and stress
27% among undergraduate medical students warrants needs for strategic plans to
alleviate depression anxiety and the stressors right from the time they join medical
school and has to be continued till they finish the course.
Keyword : Anxiety, depressive disorder, medical students, Nepal
