Depression, anxiety, sleep problems and suicidal behavior among medical students: A cross-sectional comparison study between first and sixth year students

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study is to determine the frequeny of depression/anxiety, suicidal behaviour and sleep problems in the first and sixth year medical students and to compare the both groups in terms of specified parametres and evaluate the possible change during the course. Method: This cross-sectional study included 205 first year and 81 sixth year medical students between January 2020 and March 2020 at a faculty of medicine. Data were collected using self-report questionnaire consist of sociodemographic data form, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Results: While there was no significant difference in anxiety scores, depression scores of sixth year students were significantly higher. Among all students, the percentage of higher cut off depression and anxiety scores were 40% and 36%, respectively. Suicidal ideation and suicide plan were significantly higher in students with high depression score. Use of sleep medication and daytime dysfunction scores were higher in the sixth year. During the last year among all students, 3.5% (n = 10) had self-harm behavior, 9.2% (n = 26) had serious suicidal thoughts, 9.5% (n=27) had suicide plans and 1.1% (n = 3) of students had suicide attempt. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of self-harm behavior, suicidal ideation, suicide plan and suicide attempt. Discussion: Our findings suggest that medical school students is at risk for mood disorders, suicide and sleep problems. This risk, which is higher than the general population, appears to increase in the later years of education.