FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION AMONG STUDENTS AT ALLAMA IQBAL MEDICAL COLLEGE LAHORE

Background: Performance of individual is badly effected by Depression and anxiety especially those students who's are studying medical subjects. Objective: The concept of this study was to check the depression in medical students while studying MBBS at different levels. Subjects & Methods: The pattern of this study was random and was arranged at Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore. By using stratified systematic random sampling technique two hundred students (hundred male and hundred female) were picked out. The age of subjects was between 18 to 24 years. In Agha Khan University, depression in students was checked by using Anxiety and Depression scale and those students whose cross the score of 20 was considered as having depression. Pattren of questions was use to collect the data and this data was entered into SPSS and same software was used to analyze the data. Results: 53 (26.50%) out of 200 students cross the score of 20 considered as having depression while 147 (73.50%) score less than 20. In the class of 1st year of MBBS to 2nd and 3rd year frequency of depression decreases 29.27%, 25.64% and 15.15% respectively. After 3rd year frequency of depression increases through 4th year to final year of MBBS 25.53% and 35% respectively. Conclusion: Depression is spreading woth high rate in medical students. Emotional distress causes increase in depression when students enter into course which decreases upto third year. After third year it rised due to hard work in clinics and duties in wards. Academic burden in final year, to feel that their goal is on few step and thinking about future responsibilities makes more stress in MBBS course