Prevalence of depression and associated factors

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression. Medical students and practicing physicians, in comparison with the general population, and that of other professions, are exposed to academic and professional stress and therefore are vulnerable to psychosocial health problems and certain specific dysfunctions that may compromise their physical, mental, and social. Thus, high rates of depression among medical student, have been reported in several studies from different part of the world that is higher than general population and others age – match peer with other field of study in higher institution.