Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among Pharmacy Students: Evidence to Support the Need for Optimizing Delivery of Mental Health Resources at a Pharmacy School

Abstract

Specific Aims: To assess the prevalence of significant anxiety and depressive symptoms among first-, second-, and third-year pharmacy students. To compare the number of students with anxiety and depressive symptoms as the spring semester progressed per class year. To compare the overall mean anxiety and depressive symptoms across time. To identify student self-reported barriers to using mental health resources. Methods: This was a repeated-measures, mixed methods study which included surveys and focus groups. Surveys were administered in February and April during mandatory courses for first-, second-, and third-year pharmacy students. Surveys included the: 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7); 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); and demographic questions. Symptoms were compared per class year using a Chi-square test. Conglomerate mean scores were compared based on time using a t-test. Focus groups were held on each campus of the university. Responses were categorized by barrier type mentioned. Main Results: For surveys, 30% of students self-reported significant anxiety symptoms and 22% of students self-reported significant depressive symptoms. More second-year pharmacy students selfreported anxiety and depressive symptoms as the semester progressed (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001 respectively). Depressive symptoms were significantly higher later in the semester (April vs. February) for all students (p = 0.021). The largest reported barrier for using mental health resources differed by campus. Conclusions: About 1 in 4 students self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. More secondyear pharmacy students reported anxiety and depressive symptoms later in the semester. Overall, the overall mean depressive score increased as the semester progressed.