Stress, anxiety & depression among medical undergraduate students & their socio-demographic correlates.

Background & objectives: Presence of psychological morbidity in medical undergraduate students has been reported from various countries across the world. Indian studies to document this burden are very few. Therefore, the presence of depression, anxiety and stress among medical undergraduate students was assessed using a previously validated and standardized instrument, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 42) and the associations with their socio-demographic and personal characteristics were identified. Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, a self-administered, pre-designed, pre-tested anonymous questionnaire including DASS 42 was used to collect information on basic socio-demographic (age, gender, semester) and personal characteristics (alcohol and tobacco use, academic performance). All students present on the day of survey were contacted for participation after obtaining informed written consent. Scores for each of the respondents over each of the sub-scales (Depression, Anxiety and Stress) were calculated as per the severity-rating index. Results: More than half of the respondents were affected by depression (51.3%), anxiety (66.9%) and stress (53%). Morbidity was found to be more in 5th semester students rather than students of 2nd semester. Females reported higher score as compared to their male counterparts. Perception of self assessment in academics was strongly associated with the higher score. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of medical undergraduate students was found to be depressed, anxious and stressed revealing a neglected area of the students’ psychology requiring urgent attention. Student counselling services need to be made available and accessible to curb this morbidity.

Anxiety and Depression amongst the urban females of Delhi in Ante-partum and Post-partum period.

Objectives: To assess and compare the prevalence of anxiety and depression during and after pregnancy. Methodology: This cross sectional study was done in an inpatient setting in Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in a tertiary level multi-specialty hospital in Delhi, India over a period of nine months.Two groups of women were studied. Group 1 sample included all pregnant women in last trimester awaiting delivery and Group 2 included the women in postpartum period (4-12 weeks after childbirth). Hospital Anxiety & Depression scale (HADS) was used to assess anxiety & depressive symptoms. Results: Of the 100 women included, 59% were awaiting delivery and 41% were in postpartum. The mean age was 23.87 years (SD 3.19), and both the groups were comparable on socio-demographic parameters. Of currently pregnant women 27% & 17% scored above cut-off on anxiety and depression scale respectively while amongst postpartum females 17% scored above cut-off on anxiety and depression scales. Both groups differed significantly (p<0.05) on the total HADS score and Anxiety subscale scores of HADS. There was no significant difference amongst the groups on Depression subscale scores. Conclusions: Prevalence of anxiety and depression is high amongst women during antepartum and postpartum periods. Pregnant women experience more anxiety during ante partum period as compared to post partum period and most of them are not being monitored during this time.

Impact of Hypnotherapy on Examination Anxiety and Scholastic Performance among School Children.

Aim: The aim of the present research was to study the impact of hypnotherapy as treatment intervention in overcoming examination anxiety and improving scholastic achievement. Method: A 10 item anxiety test developed by Nist and Diehl (1990) was administered on 10 school children of 13 and 14 years of age. Following pre and post test design, anxiety and scholastic achievement scores were obtained both before and after hypnotherapy intervention. The children were given 2 sessions each week in a month just before the exams and before each exam day. The hypnosis techniques used were relaxation exercises, anxiety management about taking and giving exams and positive suggestions given to the subconscious mind. Results: Pre test anxiety scores ranged from 80-92% among all the children while post test anxiety scores dropped to a range of 60-68 %. The pre test academic scores ranged 50-57% while post intervention scores increased by 10-15%. Further, anxiety symptoms of forgetting before the exam, excessive nervousness, sweating during and before the exam, going blank after seeing the paper were all controlled/eliminated after hypnotherapy and these were observed by the teachers, parents and the children themselves. Conclusion: These results indicated that hypnotherapy as treatment intervention proved to be effective in reducing exam anxiety and improving scholastic performance among children.