PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESSAMONG THE UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS OF PRINCE SATTAM BIN ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY, ALKHARJ, SAUDI ARABIA.

Background: Contemporary literature suggests that medical education might adversely affect students? mental health. Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University of Alkharj, Saudi Arabia is a developing institution hence there was a concern regarding the mental well-being of the medical students. Aim:Few similar studies have been carried out in Saudi Arabia but none in Alkharj region. So there was need to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stressamong the undergraduate medical students studying at Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University of Alkharj. Methodology:All male undergraduate medical students across the 5 years of study were includedin this cross-sectional study by filling out anonymously the standard Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire and another questionnaire containing socio demographic details. Results: A total of 92.5% of medical students eventually participated in the study. All of them were Saudi males. The prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among undergraduate medical students was found to be 39.5%, 56.2% and 37.2% respectively.Smoking was associated with higher levels of stress. The students perceived the academic pressureto be the primary cause of their adverse mental health. Conclusion:The prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress among undergraduate medical students was found to be 39.5%, 56.2% and 37.2% respectively. Academic stress, academic hours & emotional state were the major reasons causing Depression, Anxiety and Stress while spending time with friends, watching television and playing sports were the major de-stressing activities among undergraduate medical students.