A Comparative Study of Obsessionality in Medical Students, Law Students, and Controls
Michael D Harries1, Suck Won Kim2, Jon E Grant2
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC3077, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA. mharries@uchicago.edu.
The Psychiatric Quarterly
|November 5, 2016
Summary
Medical and law students exhibit higher obsessive symptoms than the general population. Specific obsessive traits like checking and orderliness are common in both groups, with distinct patterns emerging between medical and law students.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medical Education
- Legal Education
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviors can impact academic performance and well-being.
- Understanding these behaviors in high-stress academic environments is crucial for student support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare obsessive symptoms between medical students, law students, and a control population.
- To identify specific obsessive traits prevalent in each group.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Leyton Obsessional Inventory (LOI) across three sections: symptoms/traits, resistance, and interference.
- Surveyed 100 third-year medical students, 102 third-year law students, and 103 general population controls.
Main Results:
- Medical and law students scored significantly higher on obsessive symptoms than controls.
- Common symptoms included checking, order, routine, and attention to detail.
- Medical students showed higher scores for cleanliness and conscientiousness; law students for indecisiveness and self-doubt.
Conclusions:
- Both medical and law students display elevated levels of obsessionality compared to the general population.
- Distinct patterns of obsessive symptoms exist between medical and law students, necessitating tailored support strategies.
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