PREVALENCE AND CORRELATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION AMONG AI USERS MEDICAL STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence and explore the correlation between psychological distress and cognitive dysfunction among medical students utilizing artificial intelligence. Methodology: The cross-sectional survey involved 330 medical students from various programs, aged 18 to 30 years, using non-probability convenience sampling. Participants completed the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to assess psychological distress and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) for cognitive function. Data collection included face-to-face interviews, with informed consent obtained prior to participation. SPSS version 25 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The findings revealed that 54.5% of participants had normal GHQ scores, while 42.8% experienced psychological distress, including 6.7% with severe distress. MOCA results indicated that 73% of participants scored normally, whereas 27% exhibited mild cognitive impairment. GHQ and MOCA scores showed a moderately positive correlation (r = 0.543, p < 0.001), indicating a negative relationship between cognitive performance and psychological distress. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant prevalence of psychological distress and mild cognitive impairment among medical students, emphasizing the need for targeted mental health interventions within medical education to improve overall well-being and academic performance. Key words: Artificial Intelligence, Psychological Distress, Cognitive Function.