PREVALENCE OF DEPRESSION AND THE USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS AMONG THIRD YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS OF KHYBER MEDICAL COLLEGE, PESHAWAR

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of depression and the use of antidepressants among undergraduate medical students.Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study done in May, 2011 at Khyber Medical College, Peshawar on third year medical students using Zung self-rating depression scale.Results: 29 out of 166 students (17.5%) were revealed having depression. Two out of these 29 students (6.9%) were using antidepressants. Conclusion: Depression is an under-diagnosed and under-prescribed mental illness