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