Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Symptoms Among Medical Students in Punjab: A Comprehensive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Pain is evident, pressure, hopelessness and anxiety-is equally well-known to students with each passing academic semester in medical school. To understand the frequency and reasons of mental symptoms in MBBS students, the current study aims at investigating the level of MBBS students at several medical colleges in Punjab, Pakistan. Objective: To compare the results of stress, depressive, and anxious symptoms of several numbers of medical students studying in different medical colleges in Punjab and secondly, to evaluate the role of several demographics on these mental health indicators. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was completed between September 2023 to May 2024 with 350 medical students from multiple private and government medical colleges in Punjab. A cross-sectional survey was carried out including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) as the research tool and the data aspires to be statistically analyzed. Results: the results indicated that the percentage of the medical students who reported to be stressed, sad, or anxious was 47.3%, 55.7%, and 61.4%, respectively. Female students also claimed higher levels of depression compared to male students 58.3% vs. 50. 1%, (p ≤0.01) and higher levels of anxiety 65.2% vs. 55.1%, (p ≤0.03). Students in rural locations reported greater levels of stress (52.6% vs. 43.2%, p ≤0.04) than urban ones. Conclusion: The study linked high levels of mental symptoms among medical students in Punjab to characteristics such as being a female student or originating from a rural area. The current study emphasizes the necessity of targeted programs and activities in the areas of mental health promotion and preventive measures among medical college students.