Prevalence of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Among Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Objective. To explore and compare the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms between first-, second-, and third-year pharmacy students.

Methods. This was a repeated-measures study conducted at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy at two campuses (main and satellite). Surveys were administered in February 2019 and April 2019 during mandatory courses for first-, second-, and third-year pharmacy students to collect seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scores, nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores, and demographic information. A Chi-square test with a Bonferroni correction was performed to compare the number of students in a class year with clinically significant symptoms, defined as scores of ≥10 for both the GAD-7 and PHQ-9.

Results. The survey response rate was 82%. Thirty percent of students self-reported clinically significant anxiety symptoms and 22% of students self-reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. More second-year pharmacy students self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms as the semester progressed.

Conclusion. About one in four pharmacy students self-reported clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression, and more second-year pharmacy students reported anxiety and depressive symptoms later in the semester. These findings support the need for optimizing the delivery of well-being resources to pharmacy students.