Anhedonic Academics 2 : The research

Response to the survey was not incredible, however most responders felt that more than 25% of medical students would have symptoms of depression. Several studies have assessed symptoms of Depression in Medical Student populations all over the world. The real data suggests that medical student populations do have a higher level of depressive symptoms that other similar non-medical populations, however the exact proportion varies from 16% up to 38% in one South American study.

It takes little research to realise that universities all over the world are grappling with this data and have taken a variety of approaches to tackle it. Online anonymous forums allowed students of Duke University in North Carolina to speak openly about their feelings of hesitance to disclose their illness publicly. They felt that their opinion as a medical professional, and subsequently a doctor would be devalued by the diagnosis. This is a worrisome precedent, and I know that many students in the University of Queensland feel similarly.

Lets take a step back for a second to clarify. I said that they felt their opinion was devalued, simply by the diagnosis. Regardless of adequate medical management and pharmacological control over the condition, they felt that it showed weakness, or mental frailty, to be suffering with this condition, and this would subsequently reduce the validity of any statement they may make. Short of making overwhelming generalising statements about the absurdity of students having to feel this, i will note that images of medieval church, inquisitions from south-eastern Europe and hunting for female pagans come to mind.

I have depression. There i said it. There is no doubt that when depression is uncontrolled it will adversely effect my academic performance. As would uncontrolled epilepsy, asthma or diabetes. I simply refuse to separate these conditions, with regard to the mental integrity of the sufferee's. I am an intelligent, artistic, educated man and I suffer from depression. I need to exercise and take some medication to control it. This is simply the way of this disease. I still occasionally get 7's in medical school... occasionally.

Please comment, anonymously if you wish, about your feelings on this issue. The Kid remains unconvinced that Australia is able to maturely discuss mental health. Let's see....

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp058183
http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/12/05/depression-among-medical-students/3457.html
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mentalhealth/Publishing.nsf/Content/Home-1