Anxiety and depression in medical students related to desire for and expectations from a medical career

Objective: In this article, we aimed to analyse the anxiety and depression levels of medical student’s related to their desire for a career in medicine and expectations from that career. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, students from the first two years of medical school filled-out a questionnaire consisting of demographics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and questions about their medical career decision. Results: The mean anxiety score was 7.66 ± 3. 21 and the mean depression score was 5.77 ± 3.45. According to cut-off levels , 20.3% of medical students had anxiety, 29.3% had depressive symptoms. Males and second year students had significantly high levels of depression ( p < 0.05). Students who were pressured to become doctors and who expected to gain much money were both more anxious and more depressed ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: External pressures, desire to become a medical doctor and expectations from a medical education have significant effects on anxiety and depression levels of medical students. Guidance for affected students is important and this is the responsibility of medical educators and faculties.