EVALUATION OF DEPRESSION AMONG MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL STUDENTS: A CASE OF PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT
Background: In our daily life every one experiences some un happiness, mostly due to change, either from losing of
something or may be due to everyday misery. These painful feelings are usually appropriate and temporary. However,
when sadness persists and impairs daily life, it may be an indication of a depressive disorder. Duration, severity and
presence of other symptoms are the factors that distinguish normal sadness from clinical depression. Clinical depression
is classified a mood disorder. The main subtypes are Major depression, Dysthmia( Longstanding but milder
depression) and Atypical depression. Other depressive disorders include pre menstrual dysphoric (PDD or PMDD)
and Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Objectives: To determine depression level among medical and non medical students
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 subjects of the same age group. A scale was devised
on the basis of DSM-IV criteria for Depression and was standardized. Data was entered and analyzed using Microsoft
Excel and SPSS v17.
Results: Out of 300 students, all the 300 students completed the questionnaire and the response rate was 100%. The
mean age of the participants was 20.36 +/- 1.8. Using DSM IV criteria it was found that depression was highest among
female medical students that was 78.4% (n=40) , followed by non-medical male students 61.6% (n= 56) and medical
male students 59.6% (n=59). The lowest level of depression was found among female non medical students, 57.6%
(n=34).
Conclusion: It was concluded from the results that Hospital prevalence of depression is highest among female medical
students and non medical female students are less vulnerable to depression among all groups.
Key Words: Depression level. Medical non Medical Students