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Elhadi M, Buzreg A, Bouhuwaish A, Khaled A, Alhadi A, Msherghi A, Alsoufi A, Alameen H, Biala M, Elgherwi A, Elkhafeefi F, Elmabrouk A, Abdulmalik A, Alhaddad S, Elgzairi M, Khaled A.
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Front Psychol. 2020 Oct 26;11:570435. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570435. 2020.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We aim to determine the psychological status of medical students during the COVID-19 outbreak and civil war in Libya. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from 15 medical schools between April 20 and May 1, 2020. The demographic characteristics, generalized anxiety disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) results were collected. RESULTS: Of the 3,500 students, 2,430 completed the survey. The mean (± SD) score of anxiety symptoms determined by the GAD-7 was 7.2 (5.1). A total of 268 (11%) students had a GAD-7 score of ≥15, which is indicative of moderate to severe anxiety. A total of 1,568 (64.5%) students showed different degrees of anxiety: mild, 910 (37.5%); moderate, 390 (16%); and severe, 268 (11%). Anxiety was significantly associated with living status and internal displacement (P < 0.05). The mean (+ SD) score of depressive symptoms determined by the PHQ-9 was 9.7 (6.3). A total of 525 (21.6%) students had a PHQ-9 score of ≥15, which is indicative of moderate to severe depression. A total of 1,896 (88%) students were diagnosed with mild (PHQ ≥ 5) depression. Suicidal ideation was present in 552 patients (22.7%). Depression was only statistically associated with the year of study (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: These data highlight that medical students in Libya are at risk for depression, especially under the current stressful environment of the civil war and the COVID-19 outbreak. CI - Copyright © 2020 Elhadi, Buzreg, Bouhuwaish, Khaled, Alhadi, Msherghi, Alsoufi, Alameen, Biala, Elgherwi, Elkhafeefi, Elmabrouk, Abdulmalik, Alhaddad, Elgzairi and Khaled. Keywords: . Link/DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.570435