A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS OF MBBS MEDICAL COLLEGE MIRPUR A.K (PAKISTAN)

Objective: To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression among medical students and their link to demographic factors. Study Design: Cross-sectional study at MBBS Medical College, Mirpur A.K. from October 2024 to July 2025. Methods: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used. Data were analyzed using Excel and SPSS V-23 (descriptive statistics, variance analysis, chi-square tests, p ≤ 0.05). Results: Out of 591 students, 441 (74.6%) responded. Overall, 88.8% had anxiety (low 58.3%, moderate 16.1%, severe 14.3%). Depression (any level) affected 39.9% of students. Moderate to severe anxiety was higher in females (38.7%) than males (21.1%). Depression was slightly higher in females (40.9%) than males (38.9%). Third-year students, rural residents, and hostelites showed the most distress. Conclusion: Anxiety and depression are very common among medical students. Routine mental health screening, counselling, and stress management programs are needed in Pakistani medical institutes.