Neurotic Personality Traits and Depression among First Year Medical and Dental Students in Universiti Sains Malaysia

• Main Authors: Kelvin, L YS, Othman, Zahiruddin, Othman, A, Yasin, MAM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Psychiatric Association 2013
• Subjects: RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/44318/1/Neurotic%20Personality%20Traits%20and%20Depression%20among%20First%20Year%20Medical%20and%20Dental%20Students%20in%20USM.pdf; http://eprints.usm.my/44318/; http://mjpsychiatry.org/index.php/mjp/article/view/245
• Institution: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association of neurotic personality traits and coping styles with depression amongst first year medical and dental students. Methods: A total of 167 students consisting of 133 medical and 34 dental students in their first year were recruited. All the subjects were assessed using BDI, NEO PI-R (N) and Brief COPE for depression, neurotic personality traits and coping styles respectively. Result: First year dental students were 3 times more likely to have depression than first year medical students. Students who scored high and very high on the total Neuroticism factor and the Depression facet of NEO PI-R (N) were 3.6 times and 7 times more likely to have depression than students who scored very low, low or average for the above scales. All coping styles and other socio-demographic factors showed no association with depression. Conclusion: Neurotic personality traits are significantly associated with depression. NEO PI-R (N) proved to be a useful tool to evaluate the neurotic traits among medical and dental students allowing early interventional measures to those who need it