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ORIGINAL PAPER
Mental disorders among medical students
 
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1
Student Scientific Group at the Department of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
 
2
Department of Adult Psychiatry, Medical University of Lodz, Poland
 
These authors had equal contribution to this work
 
 
Submission date: 2024-09-30
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-01-02
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-04-28
 
 
Publication date: 2025-12-15
 
 
Corresponding author
Antoni Kujawiński
Antoni Kujawiński Student Scientific Group at the Department of Adult Psychiatry Medical University of Lodz Lodz, Poland
 
 
Medical Studies 2025;41(4):365-369
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Mental disorders are an increasingly common phenomenon in the Polish population. Medical students are at high risk of developing mental disorders.

Aim of the research:
To investigate the prevalence of mental disorders among medical university students, the level of stress, the use of psychotherapy, and the use of psychiatric medications.

Material and methods:
The study was conducted using an original survey, which was distributed among students from the first to the sixth year of the Medical University between February 20 and March 8, 2024. Students received a survey consisting of 22 questions in their university email inbox.

Results:
1132 students participated in the study. A mental disorder was diagnosed in 28.6% of the respondents. The most common disorder was depression, diagnosed in 16.52% of students, followed by anxiety disorders, which were diagnosed in 15.02% of respondents. 60.1% of students with diagnosed mental disorders took psychiatric medications, and 66% used psychotherapy. Among students, the most frequently indicated level of stress on a daily basis was medium, followed by high.

Conclusions:
The prevalence of mental disorders among medical students is higher than in the general population. The most common mental disorder is depression. The most commonly taken psychiatric drug is sertraline. Medical students face high levels of stress on a daily basis.
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eISSN:2300-6722
ISSN:1899-1874
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