Study of Prevalence of Depression among XIth and XIIth Class Students of Medical Stream from Urban Schools of Punjab

Abstract

Background: Depression during the teen years comes at a time of great personal change when boys and
girls form their identity apart from their parents, grappling with gender issues and emerging sexuality,
and make their own independent decisions for the first time in their lives. Purpose of this study was
to estimate the prevalence of depression among XIth and XIIth class students of medical stream in
urban schools of Ludhiana, Punjab. Material and Methods: Present study was Cross-sectional study,
conducted in in students. Class XI and XII students of medical stream were interviewed. Results:
Among 253 students studied, majority (71.1%) of the students were females, and about half of the total
students were of 16 years of age. Out of total students 84.6% students were suffering from depression
with 17.8% having severe depression. At 15 years of age students suffering from moderate to severe
depression is 31% whereas at 18 years of age 57% students were suffering from moderate to severe
type of depression. There was a significant difference of prevalence of depression in between males
and females , with females(89.4%) outnumbering males (72.6%). Almost equal number of students
in medical stream were studying in class XI and class XII, with slight over-representation (52.9%)
of students in class XI. Out of 134 students in Class XIth 81.3 % had depression while 88.2 % of 119
students in class XIIth were depressed. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of depression in our study
was 84.6% and it is a prudent reminder of the extreme pressure the adolescent face in this particular
age. There was a significant difference of prevalence of depression as females (89.4%) outnumbering
males (72.6%).