Evaluation of Depression Level and Antidepressant Use of Faculty of Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of depression and the use of antidepressants in the faculty of pharmacy. Material-Method: This study was an online cross-sectional survey and was conducted to Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Pharmacy 4th and 5th grade students between 1-4 February 2023. The questionnaire consisted of questions about sociodemographic characteristics, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and antidepressant use. In the study, the cut-off point for depression was accepted as 17 and above. Results: The median BDI score of the students was 14 (7-22). 39.2% of the students were depressed and 30.4% were minimally depressed, 29.6% were mildly depressed, 30.4% were moderately depressed and 9.6% were severely depressed. The father's education level and monthly household income were found to be statistically significant in those with a BDI score of 17 and above, compared to a BDI score of 16 and below (p<0.05). Eighteen (14.4%) students were using antidepressants and 38.9% of the students using antidepressants stated that they did not use antidepressants regularly. Conclusion: According to the results of our study, the level of depression in pharmacy faculty students was found to be high. Most of the students with moderate and severe depression were not taking antidepressant treatment. A significant portion of the students using antidepressants were using antidepressants irregularly. As the pharmacists of the future, they have important roles in patient education and patient compliance. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on this subject in the courses in the faculty.