Frequency of Functional Depression and Coping Strategies in Medical Students and Doctors

Functional depression, marked by intermittent depressive episodes while maintaining normal functionality, is common among medical professionals and students. Understanding the prevalence of functional depression in these populations and identifying effective coping mechanisms is crucial for supporting their mental health. Objectives: To determine the Frequency of functional depression and coping strategies in medical students and Doctors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at FRP-Medical College from June 2022 to May 2023, involving 260 participants (160 medical students and 100 recent medical graduates). Participants completed an online questionnaire distributed via WhatsApp and email, with informed consent obtained electronically. The study utilized the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess depression severity and the 28-item Brief-COPE questionnaire to evaluate coping mechanisms. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to a total of 260 individuals (160 were medical students and 100 were medical professionals). The mean age of undergraduates and doctors was 20.53 ± 1.12 years and 28.77 ± 3.63 respectively. A high frequency of functional depression was noted in which (57%) of undergraduates and (53%) of doctors had functional depression (p=0.017). Female students were more inclined to be affected by depression than their male competitors (p=0.041). The family structure and marital status, on the other hand, were not linked to depression. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that medical scholars are a susceptible population with high rates of mental morbidity, including anxiety and sadness. Moreover, problem-focused coping methods were the most adopted by them.