Screening of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders in Medical Students

Abstract

The aim of the research was to study the frequency of occurrence of anxiety and depression in first-year medical university students in the post-holiday period.Materials and methods. The study involved 70 first-year medical university students (average age 17,9 ± 1,31 years). The study was conducted as part of a periodic medical examination of participants during the first semester (in the early post-holiday period). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used.Results. The analysis of the answers to the questions of the HADS anxiety subscale showed that more than a third of the survey participants (38,6%) had anxiety disorders, of which more than half of the participants (51,9%) needed the advice of a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist. 21,4% of participants had a feeling of tension, 27,2% - fear, 24,3% - restless thoughts, 17,1% - inability to relax, 22,8% - internal tension or trembling, 40% - restlessness, 31,4% - panic. Analysis of answers to questions on the HADS depression subscale indicated that 22,9% of students had depressive disorders, of which more than a third (37,5%) needed the advice of a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist. 27,1% of participants had a decrease/lack of pleasure from something that used to bring positive emotions, 10% - inability to laugh, 15,7% - lack of a sense of cheerfulness, 20% - slowness, 15,7% - unwillingness to monitor their appearance, 18,6% - decreased sense of satisfaction from hobbies, 20% - decreased feelings of pleasure from a good book, radio or TV program.Conclusion. The expansion of the standard scope of periodic medical examination made it possible to screen the psycho-emotional state of students in the post-holiday period of the autumn semester and identify a risk group for the development and increase of existing anxiety-depressive disorders during the educational process, which can have an adverse effect on both the quality of life of students and the effectiveness and success of training.