Complications associated with surveying medical student depression: the importance of anonymity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate students' attitudes and concerns regarding potential repercussions of completing the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). METHODS: A survey based on focus group data was developed and distributed. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-one of 400 surveys (48%) were returned. Of 160 students who remembered completing the BDI, 31 (19%) admitted to concerns about the research, and nearly 10% admitted to recording dishonest answers. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the importance of conducting anonymous assessments of medical students, particularly when assessing sensitive psychological states.