A 2023 nationwide study on adjustment disorder among first year MBBS students in India

Amidst the complex transition to medical college, encompassing a myriad of academic, social, and personal adjustments, MBBS students in India confront multifaceted challenges that can precipitate adjustment disorder, a phenomenon understudied within the Indian context. Therefore, it is of interest to assess adjustment disorder among first-year MBBS students within six months of enrolment. We used a Google form encompassing adjustment disorder new-module 20 for data collection and found that 67% of the 401 responses from first-year medical students exhibited adjustment disorder. The top stressors identified included time pressure, work pressure, financial problems, moving to a new home, and termination of important leisure activities. Female gender, age group 21-25, conflicts in working life, financial problems, own serious illness, family conflicts, pressure to meet deadlines, and excessive workload showed significant associations with adjustment disorder.