Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety & Stress among First Year Students in Physiotherapy Colleges at Bangalore, India

Introduction: Physiotherapy students are important human resource in the field of heath. Detection of potential anxiety, stress and depression developed in them during first year of academics is crucial since anxiety and stress can lead to low productivity, low quality of life, and suicidal ideas. This study was conducted to find the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among first year students in Padmashree Institute of Physiotherapy, Bangalore, Karnataka.

Methodology: 105 students have been selected for the study purpose irrespective of age, sex and personal habits. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used for this study. Standardized, semi-structured questionnaire named DASS 21 (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale) was used to collect data.

Results: Among all 105 students; Depression – 41.9% were reported in normal category, 21.9% of them in moderate, 18.09% in mild, 10.47% in severe and 7.61% fall in extremely severe category. The anxiety scale reported 27.61% in normal, 23.8% in moderate, 20.95% are in extremely severe, 18.09% in severe and 9.52% of them have been under mild category. The study reported 55.23% normal cases of stress scale, 19.04% were in moderate, 13.33% in mild, 11.42% in severe and 0.95% case in extremely severe score.

Conclusion: This study shows that the maximum number of students have raised level of anxiety and depression, whereas the number of students having increased stress are less in number.