[Depression in medical students: prevalence, dynamics and comorbidity]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Medical Education
• Epidemiology of Mental Disorders

Background:

• Medical students face significant psychological distress.
• Understanding the prevalence and dynamics of depressive disorders is crucial for intervention.
• Existing research indicates a need for tailored psychoprevention programs in medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and progression of depressive disorders among medical students.
• To identify risk factors and demographic differences in depression.
• To inform the development of primary and secondary psychoprevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A psychometric assessment was conducted on a sample of 1045 medical students (grades 1-6).
• The study included both Russian-speaking and international students, aged 17-24.
• Data analysis involved comparative statistics and correlation analysis to identify trends and associations.

Main Results:

• Mental disorders were diagnosed in 19.9% of students, with higher prevalence in fifth-year students.
• Depression was more common in Russian-speaking students (26.8%) than foreign students (17.1%).
• Suicidal behavior was significantly higher among Russian-speaking students; depression correlated with anxiety and stress in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Depressive symptoms are a significant component of mental disorders in nearly half of medical students.
• Local students show an increasing frequency of depressive experiences throughout their studies.
• Foreign students exhibit an inverse trend in depressive experiences.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted mental health interventions throughout medical school.