A Study of Anxiety, Depression and Stress Symptoms among Medical Students during COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The wide spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) carries not only physical but also psychological effects especially among the medical students. The COVID-19 pandemic made examination and curricular restructuring. With the accessible evidence suggesting that medical students mental health status is very poorer than that of general population. Academic stress being a chief predictor have significant effect on student's mental wellbeing. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the psychological distress of COVID-19 on medical students and to find the personal risk factors. Materials and Methods: The present study was an observational study conducted at Saveetha Medical College, the total participants was 282 medical students. An online survey was conducted and distributed to medical students via Google forms containing the questionnarie sessions. The questionnaire consists of demographic details, psychometric tools for assessment of depression, stress and anxiety scales. Results: The total number of participants were 282 medical students. Participants with clinically significant depression was 75.2%, anxiety was 56.4% and stress was 52.9%. Those who showed PTSD was 54.3%. This analysis revealed that it is associated with gender. This study also revealed that depression and anxiety was significantly associated with personal history of psychiatric illness. Conclusion: Medical students were highly depressed, anxious and stressed during COVID-19 pandemic. The psychological impact of COVID-19 on medical students is also associated with previous psychiatric illness and gender.