When compared to the general population and other professionals, majority of the medicos and practicing physicians are more prone to psychological health problems. Especially in case of medical students, psychological stress is very common and is mainly associated with depression and anxiety. Heavy work load, lack of practical knowledge and also the unfamiliar environment of the hospital may provoke stress in medicos during their clinical practice. Majority of the studies were done and published from Western and European countries. But from Asian and Eastern countries very few studies were available in this regard. Our study has made an attempt to assess the prevalence and severities of depression, anxiety and stress among Indian medical students. This was a cross sectional study involving medical students, who were interested to participate in the study from the first year to final year were included. Individuals with past history of depression before joining in the course were excluded from the study. The data was collected and assessed by using the scale, depression anxiety stress Scale-42 (DASS-42). Graph pad prism software version 6.02 was used to perform Statistical analysis. Among these 180 individuals, 73 (40.5%) were found to be depressed (mean score: 16.6-moderate depression), 74 (41.1%) were observed with anxiety (mean score: 13.8- moderate anxiety) and 55 (30.5%) were observed with stress (mean score: 21-moderate stress). Majority of the students were diagnosed as stress associated with depression and anxiety than a single disorder alone. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was found to be high in female medical students than the male medical students. According to this study, academic stressors are the major factors that influenced the students to feel to be stressful. To prevent the psychological morbidity among medicos, early detection of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress is very much essential. Hence, it is mandatory to design relevant methods of stress management programs to reduce the levels of depression, anxiety and stress which enhance the quality of life of medicos.
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