COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS

INTRODUCTION: Academic stressors, such as high volume work load, concerns regarding academic performance, deprivation of sleep, reduced time for social activities, lack of physical exercise, frequent rotation into new environments, competitiveness amongst students etc. can lead to depression and anxiety. OBJECTIVES The present study was designed to explore the levels of anxiety and depression among Medical and Non-medical students of private colleges, using a self administered anxiety and depression questionnaire. SETTINGS & DURATION Students from Comsats and Women Medical College Abbottabad  were selected from May to August 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was undertaken  in Women Medical College and Comsats Abbottabad. The questionnaire was administered to 30 Medical and 30 Non-medical students who had no self reported physical illnesses. Incidence of anxiety and depression was assessed in these students using a structured validated questionnaire, Beck anxiety and depression scale , which consisted of 21 items, along with a demographic sheet. The parameters studied in students were Educational courses and stressors related to anxiety and depression. Data analysis was done on SPSSV.20 and Microsoft excel. RESULTS: There were 60 students who participated in the study, 30 were from 4 th year MBBS and 30 from BSC. analysis of the results showed that 56.6% for medical students had anxiety, compared to 76.6% of non-medical students. Whereas the incidence of depression in medical students was noted to be 43.3%, compared to 50% in non-medical students. CONCLUSION: According to this study the incidence of depression and anxiety was higher in non-medical students compared to medical students. KEY WORDS: Anxiety, depression, Beck anxiety Inventory and Beck depression inventory.