FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSIVE ILLNESS AMONG DOCTORS WORKING IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN D.I.KHAN, PAKISTAN

Objective: Depression is a significant public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of depression among doctors and to evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors, as well as working hours, and specialty, with depression among doctors working in a teaching hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Methodology: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in a Teaching Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan in the month of October 2019. The study population was stratified proportionally according to hospital departments and a random sampling method was used to collect a sample of 137 participants. Data were collected with a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic variables, and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 25. Results: Among 137 participants 69(50.4%) had depression. Higher rate of depression was found among female doctors (66.67%) as compared male doctors (45.7%). Conclusion: Depression is highly prevalent among doctors and especially among female doctors. Prevalence rate being higher than the general population. Keywords: depressive illness, doctor