Invisible Emergency: Stress and Anxiety-Depressive Disorders among Medical Students in Tunisia
R. Kammoun, H. Hsine, H. Ghabi, M. Mehdi Karoui, O. Mechergui, F. EllouzeIntroduction
Medical training exposes students to high levels of stress, associated with significant risks of depression and anxiety. While this impact has been extensively studied worldwide, it remains underexplored in Tunisia.
Objectives
To estimate the prevalence of psychological disorders among medical students enrolled in the four Tunisian faculties of medicine.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted online using a self-administered Google Forms questionnaire over a two-month period (October–November 2024). Stress was assessed using the PSS-10 scale, anxiety and depressive symptoms with the HADS scale, and sleep quality with the PSQI score.
Results
We included 643 participants. The mean PSS score was 33.16 ± 6.58, with 80.6% exhibiting a high level of perceived stress. Mean HADS-A and HADS-D scores were 10.46 ± 4.22 and 8.37 ± 3.96, respectively. Anxiety-depressive disorders were reported in 25.3% of participants. Poor sleep quality was observed in 69.1% of students, with a mean PSQI score of 7.46 ± 3.3.
Conclusions
Stress and anxiety-depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among Tunisian medical students. Preventive strategies should be implemented at the faculty and ministerial levels.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared